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Carl Kenneth Kuester

On Feb. 27, our historian, archivist, friend, and father, Carl Kenneth Kuester, passed away in his sleep. He enjoyed a productive and full life. A resident of Guilford since 1954, he was born in Misericordia Hospital, Manhattan, New York, on Oct. 29, 1928, to Carl Augustus Kuester and Jeannette (Patterson) Kuester.

He and his younger brother, James Craig Kuester (predeceased), grew up in Baldwin, New York. In 1951, he graduated with a bachelor of science engineering degree from Brown University.

Carl served in Korea, as second lieutenant civil engineer in the United States Army Reserve from 1952 to 1953. During 1951, while changing trains in Grand Central Station, he noticed an attractive young woman, Margaret Ann Pless, boarding the same commuter train. She proceeded to exit the train at his same stop. Amazed at his luck, he followed her to her destination, which happened to be the house right next door to his parents’ home in Baldwin. And as the saying goes, the rest is history. He married Margaret on March 15, 1952, while he was on leave from service. They were married for 56 years until her death in 2008. Together they raised and are survived by five children: Kenneth E. Kuester (spouse, Rene Costello), Jeannette K. Cole (spouse, Robert O. Cole), Mark A. Kuester (spouse, Betty Anne Gerken), William D. Kuester (spouse, Cindy Kirmss) and James P. Kuester.

During his life, he enjoyed interacting with seven grandchildren: Scott Farquharson, Jessie, Joshua, Jacob and Tyler Kuester, Rachel, and Tyler Cole; and two great-grandchildren, Levi Kuester, and Scarlett Kuester.

Carl worked at United Illuminating Company for 25 years in engineering, plant operations, and new construction. In 1975, he started a business, Condenser Technology Inc (CTI), servicing power plant operations throughout the world. After selling CTI to his business partner, he transitioned to his successful consulting firm in the same field. He had a deep appreciation for the many close friends he made during his career. He loved working, attempted retirement three times, and begrudgingly finally retired permanently in 2020.

He was a licensed pilot and fondly remembered trips throughout New England, and most joyfully, he accomplished one of his lifelong dreams of flying a P-51 in 2014. True to his love of all things mechanical, he drew great pleasure in restoring and driving his 1928 Model-T truck and “the Green Hornet,” his 1931 Plymouth sedan.

A service of remembrance will be held at the North Guilford Congregational church in June 2023, followed by interment in the North Guilford cemetery. Staying connected with friends and relatives was very important to Carl; therefore, we hope you will gather with us at Carl and Margaret’s home in North Guilford for refreshments and fellowship after the service and interment. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Homecare Plus, Community Healthcare and Hospice, 753 Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT 06437; www.ynhhs.org/home-healthcare or a charity of your choice. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.