Capt. Peter "Pj" Kuehn

Captain Peter Julius (PJ) Kuehn, Jr., age 81, of Caldwell, passed away on September 20, 2021. Visitation with the family will be from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at Strickland Funeral Home Caldwell. Funeral services will be at the Burleson County Cowboy Church at 10:30 am on Thursday, September 23, 2021. Private burial services will follow at the Kuehn Cemetery in Tomball, Texas.

PJ was born on June 17, 1940 in Tomball, TX to parents Peter Julius Kuehn, Sr. and Carrie LaVerne (Castleschouldt) Kuehn. He was raised with his siblings on the family farm in Tomball. PJ learned a strong work ethic from an early age, assisting with feeding the livestock and planting crops.

PJ’s father was an early city marshall in Tomball and was proud to see his son take an interest in Law Enforcement. PJ graduated from Tomball High School and soon spent four years in active duty service in the US Army and two years in the Reserves. Following his honorable discharge, he returned home and began his law enforcement career at the Baytown Police Academy.

PJ had a long and varied career. He worked as a patrolman for the Baytown Police Dept., a Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy, and later at the Burleson County Sheriff’s Dept. PJ retired in July of 2020 at the age of 80 after 50+ years of service. In later years, PJ’s dedication to his work and eye for detail made him an incredible cold case detective. He was even featured on Dateline to discuss some of his successfully solved cases. Some highlights of his career were receiving the Service above Self award from the Caldwell Rotary Club in 2015, and receiving the 100 Club’s Policeman of the Year award when he was serving in the Baytown Police Dept. in the early years of his career. In 2020, PJ earned his Master Jailer Proficiency Certificate from the Texas Committee of Law Enforcement.

PJ also worked as a lieutenant jailer in Burleson County for a number of years. He was a very respectful and courteous person, and he treated all of his inmates as such. He believed everyone deserved a second chance. There are many former inmates whose lives were positively impacted by PJ’s deep faith. He would witness to his inmates whenever he could. Although he saw the terrible side of humanity during his work, he didn’t grow jaded – he remained a kind and caring person and was strong in his Christian faith.

PJ was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He will be deeply missed by many family members and friends.

PJ is survived by his wife of 33 years, Jennifer (Jones) Kuehn; children Dale Kuehn (Amanda Fish), Rainer Boeker (Melinda Szucs), Kimberly Wellington (William Wellington); grandchildren Brett James Ballinger, William Lee Hutcheson, Morgan Kay Hutcheson, Colton Lee Hutcheson, Stefanie Boeker, Rainer Boeker, Kevin Boek, Levi Wellington and Chris Wellington; great-grandchildren Skylar and Davyn McCrory, Wayde Lee Hutcheson and Oakley Mae (who is on the way). He is also survived by his siblings, Samuel Kuehn (Kelly Kuehn), Virginia Fuller, and Judy Williams.

PJ is preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Linda Kay Kuehn; his sister Anne Schoessow, and his parents.

Pallbearers will be fellow Burleson County Sheriff’s Dept. Officers.

If you’d like to make a contribution in memory of PJ, please consider a donation to the Burleson County Sheriff’s Dept. or to the 100 Club, which supports law enforcement.