Robert M. Kulm

Robert  "Bob" M. Kulm, 99, of Twin Falls, Idaho passed away on June 25, 2024 at his home in Twin Falls, Idaho. Bob was born January 13, 1925 in Jerome, Idaho. He was the sixth of seven children born to Matt Kulm and Elizabeth Zakel Kulm, both immigrants to the USA. Elizabeth came from Austria at the age of 9. Matt came from Russia at the age of 21. They were married in Pocatello in 1913, three days before Elizabeth’s 15th birthday.

Bob grew up on farms in Falls City and Jerome and graduated from Jerome High School. He joined the U.S Navy in 1944 and went through boot camp in Farragut, Idaho. From there, he attended aviation radio and radar school in Memphis, Tennessee and air gunnery school in Purcell, Oklahoma. He was stationed in Jacksonville, Florida, Detroit, Michigan, Chincoteague Island, Virginias and on the carrier FDR, the largest ship afloat at the time. He attended Idaho State College from 1946 to 1947.

Bob met Mary Ellen McSherry while they both worked at Diamond Industrial Laundry in Glenns Ferry, Idaho. They married in Winnemucca, Nevada on May 8, 1948. Mary Ellen passed away on December 23, 1984.

Bob worked for SH Kress Co. in Boise for three years, then worked for the MH King Company for 36 years, managing stores in Burley, Blackfoot, and in Twin Falls at the Lynwood shopping center. Bob retired from King’s on January 13, 1987, his 62nd birthday. Bob married Leatha Walker on March 2, 1985. They bought a home in Queen Valley, Arizona where they spent the winters for 26 years.

During Bob’s lifetime, he experienced four incidents that could have been fatal: 1. In 1942, he was a passenger in a car that hit a bridge abutment at 90 MPH. He walked away without a scratch. 2. In 1945, the plane he was in crashed into the sea on takeoff. 3. In 1947, his laundry truck hit a patch of black ice, spun, and rolled down an embankment, landing upside down, and pinning him inside. Luckily, someone saw this and came to pull him out. 4. In 2002, he experienced cardiac arrest on commercial flight from Phoenix to Los Angeles passengers revived him and he was taken to the hospital upon arrival. About these incidents, Bob said “God is good. He spared my life all four times!”

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings; Herman Kulm, Dale Kulm, Dorothy Read, Irma Read, Kathleen Richter, and Grace Ambrose, his first wife; Mary Ellen (McSherry) Kulm, his second wife Leatha Jean (Quaintance) Kulm, his grandson; Rodney Warren, and his great granddaughter; Amy Warren.

Bob is survived by his daughter; Mary Susan Warren of Twin Falls, Idaho, his son; Robert Douglas Kulm of Twin Falls, Idaho, his granddaughter; Wendy Sue Warren of Twin Falls, Idaho and several great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Visions Hospice, Twin Falls for their support.

A viewing for Bob will be held on Monday, July 1, 2024 from 10:00 - 10:45 am at the Wilks Magic Valley Funeral Home, 2551 Kimberly Road Twin Falls, Idaho 83301. A funeral service will be held on Monday, July 1, 2024 at 11:00 am at Wilks Magic Valley Funeral Home, 2551 Kimberly Road Twin Falls, Idaho 83301. Interment will take place at the Twin Falls Cemetery, 2350 4th Ave E, Twin Falls, ID 83301.

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