Jack Allen Kuehl, 78, passed away April 5, 2009 at Providence Hospital following a severe stroke. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at Bellmead Funeral Home with Pastor Jeromy Connell officiating. Burial will be at Axtell Cemetery. Jack was bom July 7, 1930, in Limestone County to Edwin and Annie Kuehl. He was a member of Spark's Memorial United Methodist Church. He attended schools in Mt. Calm, Prairie Hill and Axtell, as well as the University of Texas at Austin, excelling in academics and all sports. He officiated basketball for many years in the Waco area. He was self-employed for many years in the business of flooring and countertop installation. He later worked as a rural letter carrier in Axtell, Texas. Jack pursued many hobbies including playing baseball and softball, hunting, golfing, and pitching washers. And for many years was known as "Big Jack" Kuehl from Axtell at local rodeos where he competed as a calf roper and later as a team roper. He raised cattle and quarter horses and the last horse that he raised. Blacky, lived to be 35 years old. More recently he enjoyed watching sports on television and watching his son rope. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers J.T. Kuehl and Andy Kuehl, and niece Vicki Kuehl. Survivors include his wife, the former Laurita Scott; daughter, Rita; son Sloan and his wife Carrie; brothers Arthur Kuehl and his wife Connie of Robinson; Edwin Kuehl and his wife Dianne of Grand Prairie; Gene Kuehl of Lorena; Donnie Kuehl of Aledo; and sisters, Lorraine Varner of Waco; Marilyn Smith also of Waco and numerous nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be his nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be his old cowboy friends, his golfing buddies and his washer pitching friends. The family would like to extend its sincere gratitude to Drs. Brown, Gardelt, Borowski, and Falcone with a special thank you to the nurses of the Providence ICU and the entire Providence Hospital Staff. Following the service, the family will gather at the home of Sloan and Carrie Kuehl from 3 to 5 p. m. As a celebration of Jack's lifestyle, western attire for the service is welcomed and encouraged. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Heart of Texas Cowboy Church. P.O. Box 20922 Waco, Texas 76702; Animal Birth Control Clinic, 1531 Wooded Acres, Waco, Texas 76710; or Providence Foundation 6901 Medical Parkway, Waco Texas 76712.