Rufus was born at Covington on January 4, 1917 the son of Albert and Lilly (nee Schrieber) Kuhlengel. He was baptized and confirmed in the St. Luke Lutheran Church in Covington. He was united in marriage to Flora Schrieber in St. Louis, MO on March 27, 1940 and she preceded him in death on May 11, 1979. He then married Elverda Ostendorf in the St. Peter United Church of Christ at Okawville, IL on July 26, 1983 and she survives his passing.

Mr. Kuhlengel was a lifelong farmer in the Covington area and was a member of the Washington County Farm Bureau. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church at Okawville and a former member of the St. Luke Lutheran Church at Covington where he had held numerous offices. Rufus had served on the board of the Hogshead School. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting and fishing and was a lifetime member of the Covington Fishing Derby.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife Elverda of Venedy; 5 children, Curt Kuhlengel and special friend Diana of Hoyleton, IL, Dennis Kuhlengel and wife Jean of Covington, Lois Ellerbusch and husband Alan of Mt. Vernon, IL, Linda Baldwin and husband Mark of Nashville and Larry Kuhlengel and wife Cindy of Covington; 11 grandchildren, Kim (Ric) Jones, Tina (Steve) Horvath, Robyn (Tyler) Engele, Jason (Audra) Ellerbusch, Erica (Stacey) Mitchell, Emily (Trey) Patterson, Lacey (Alec) Coughlin, Michael Baldwin, Mollie (Nathan) Bergmann, Allison Kuhlengel and Jordan Kuhlengel; 10 great grandchildren, Ella and Hudson Jones, Will and Emmerson Horvath, Anderson Engele, Hershel Gardner, Jacob, Jackson and Zane Ellerbusch and Paige Patterson. Rufus is also survived by Elverda’s 2 daughters, Delores Heberer and husband Tyrone and Geraldine Harre and husband Don all of Okawville; Elverda’s daughter-in-law, June Ostendorf of Okawville; and Elverda’s 8 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.