Daniel J. Kuchta

Daniel J. Kuchta, of Atlantic Beach, Fleet Landing passed away on Dec 21, 2018, was born in Cudahy, WI on 9/27/1924.  His parents were John and Maria Kuchta, both of them born in Czechoslovakia(currently Slovak Republic).  He graduated from high school in 1942, volunteered for the US Army Air Corps and entered the Aviation Cadet Program and received his pilot wings in September of 1943. He flew C-47s and C-46s in the CBI over the “Hump.”  Later he was stationed in Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan, where he met his wife, Tillie. Dan served in the US Army Air Corps and in the US Air Force for over 31 years, during WWII, Korea and Vietnam, retiring on June 30, 1974 as a Colonel.  He worked for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville for about ten years as the Director of Non-credit Programs.  Dan received his BBA from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, his MS from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and his PHD from the University of Tennessee.  He is survived by, his daughter, Kathy Ann Zuck and husband Steve Zuck of Kingston, TN, granddaughter Summer Tannhauser and husband Brett Tannhauser and 3 great-grandchildren; and his son Daniel W. Kuchta of Brockport, NY, and his wife Maureen Kuchta, grandsons Kevin Kuchta and Luke Kuchta.  Dan’s cremated remains will be buried in the Jacksonville National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fleet Landing Endowment Fund or the Fleet Landing Endowment Scholarship Fund.