ROCK ISLAND — Funeral services for James J. “Sam” Kuehnel, 58, of Rock Island, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Word of Life Christian Center, Rock Island. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Van Hoe Funeral Home Ltd., East Moline. Private interment will be held at a later date. Mr. Kuehnel died Saturday, July 13, 2013, at Trinity Rock Island. Memorials may be made to his daughter's education fund.

Jim was born May 9, 1955, in Rock Island, the son of John and Denise Martin Kuehnel. He received his bachelor’s degree from St. Ambrose, Davenport. He married Mary Ann Naert on May 17, 1997, at Word of Life Christian Center, Rock Island. He worked for Williams White & Company, Moline. He was a kind and loving son, brother, husband, father, foster father and uncle, who gave his whole life to his family. He always saw the best in people. His daughter, Beth, was the love and joy of his life. Not only had he been the best dad to Beth, but also to many foster children, with a special place in his heart for Emily. He enjoyed the outdoors and the adventure it presented. Whether he was fishing, kayaking with Beth, or just being with nature and animals, he was happy. He was proud to have completed an Outward Bound. He had traveled to Israel and the Holy Land as well as to Europe twice. Jim had a strong commitment to the Lord and had a solid faith of spending eternity in Heaven with his Lord and Savior.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Kuehnel, Rock Island; daughter, Beth Kuehnel, at home; sisters, Christine (Harley) Stropes, Edgington, Ill., Kathy (Thomas) Nichols, Moline, Virginia Kuehnel, Vallejo, Calif., and Linda Kuehnel, Wayzata, Minn.; brother, Joseph Kuehnel, South Carolina.; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, William Kuehnel.

Online condolences may be left for the family at vanhoe.com.