Obituary of Rev. Wolfgang Gerhard Kuss

Rev. Wolfgang Gerhard Kuss, 93, passed away on February 3, 2024, at Woodbury Health Care Center. 

He was born March 22, 1930, to Paul and Helene Kuss in Leipzig, Germany. Kuss grew up during the years of the Third Reich that led to World War ll. He and his family survived the war and lived for five years thereafter under Soviet occupation when the part of Germany in which they lived was ceded to the USSR, becoming East Germany. 

After completing his education to become an optician, he escaped to West Germany, and from there immigrated to America in 1952, following his sister. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea as a new American citizen. 

Kuss resumed his trade as an optician after returning to civilian life, working in collaboration with Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN to provide artificial eyes. He established his own firm, Midwest Eye Laboratories Inc., in 1986.

After retiring from his business in 1999, he became increasingly active in his church, Destiny Christian Center in Burnsville, MN. He eventually passed his roles in various church ministries into younger hands but continued to teach a weekly Bible study. 

He is survived by two nephews, John H. Ward (Faith) of Becker, MS; Rolf G. (Sheila) of River Falls, WI; niece, Heidi E. Ward of Oakdale, MN; and grand-nephews and nieces, Dr. J. Matthew Ward (Sarah) of Quincy, IL; Alicia Ward of Saltillo, MS; Eric Ward of St. Paul, MN; and Annie Ward of Eau Claire, WI. 

A celebration of life service for Wolfgang will be held at Spirit of Life Bible Church, 690 Commerce Drive, Woodbury, MN, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 24.