David L. Kuhn — a devoted husband, father, and respected member of the community — passed away peacefully with his family by his side on November 8, 2023 in Ellensburg, Washington.

Born on July 23, 1941 in Mandan, North Dakota, David was the son of Frank and Katie Kuhn. From an early age, he exhibited a strong sense of duty and an unwavering commitment to serving his country. David proudly served in the United States Army for four years, including three years stationed in Korea.

Following his military service, David pursued a career in law enforcement, where he made a significant impact on the community he served. He began his journey as a Deputy Marshal with the Town of Mercer Island from 1965 to 1970. In 1970, David joined the City of Mercer Island Police Department as a detective, a role he held until his retirement in 1992. He received the Officer of the Year award five times and was recognized with the department’s prestigious “Top Gun Award” on multiple occasions. Additionally, David served as the range instructor for the department.

When asked early in his career why he chose law enforcement, David humbly replied, “Helping people, I like helping people.”

Dave’s passion for the outdoors was limitless. He wholly enjoyed hunting, fishing, and other outdoor adventures with his family and lifelong friends, making many great memories that will never be forgotten.

Dave possessed a natural ability to effortlessly lighten the mood and infuse humor into any situation. With his quick wit, clever jokes, hilarious stories, and well-timed pranks, he had an uncanny talent for enlivening any room and bringing contagious smiles and laughter to everyone around him.

Dave was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Helen, and a loving father to their children, Carri, Julie, and Tony. He is preceded in death by his brother, Delbert, and his daughter, Carri. He is survived by his wife, Helen, his daughter Julie, his son Tony, his daughter-in-law Liz, and his sisters, Cora, Rita, and Angie. Dave’s love and guidance will forever be carried in the hearts of his four grandchildren—Tony, Jessica, David, and Jonathan—as well as his great-grandson, Louis, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of David’s life will be held in the Spring of 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to be made to a charity of your choice.