Craig Russel Kuchel, of Florence, Montana, passed away surrounded by his family on February 11, 2026, at age 79. Craig was born to Dr. Eldred "Russ" or "E.R." and his mother, Frances "Keith" Kuchel, in Laramie, Wyoming, where he spent his early years with his sister, Vicki, and brother, Gary.

When Craig was 15, the family moved to Peoria, Illinois, for his father to assume an administrator position at Bradley University. Craig often told the story about the move. More specifically, Craig would recall that, because he could drive in Wyoming at 15, he was able to drive one of the family's two vehicles across the county. However, Illinois required one to be 16 to drive. So, upon arrival in Peoria, Craig's father told him that he could no longer drive. Craig would grumble about this story for the rest of his years.

Craig attended Peoria High School. It was during English class his junior year that he met Joan Freed, the love of his life, whom he would later marry. Even though Craig and Joan's romance began in high school, they parted ways when Joan went off to Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, and Craig started his bachelor's degree studies at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

At Northwestern, Craig studied sociology and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1968. He joined Beta Theta Pi fraternity and, to support his fraternity beer budget, he drove buses for the Chicago Transit Authority.  Even though he and Joan had gone separate directions, she still visited him and he kindly introduced her to her first fraternity party.

Craig, or "Mr. Kuchel" or "Kuch" as his students called him, had an illustrious teaching career. That career began at the Moses Montefiore School for Troubled Boys in Chicago. As the name suggests, Montefiore was a "special school" with students that faced challenges at home that translated to problems in the regular school system. This is where Craig recognized his calling to be a teacher.  Of course, this was not particularly surprising given that both his mother and father were educators. Craig's ability to reach and connect with students with very diverse backgrounds began to take shape during this early teaching assignment. It was also during his time at Montefiore that Craig's interest in wildlife and the west piqued, directly resulting from his interest in the Craighead brothers' research of Grizzly bears in Yellowstone Park at the time. Craig showed his students videos documenting that research. Craig also understood that the University of Montana was involved with this research.

By the time Craig sought to follow his interest in wildlife biology and go west, he and Joan had rekindled their high school romance.  Part of that westward journey, then, included getting married in the back yard of a Justice of the Peace in Laramie, Wyoming, on August 20, 1970.

Thereafter, Craig and Joan moved to Missoula. Joan began teaching at Russell Elementary School and Craig went back to school at the University of Montana. There he earned a second bachelor's degree in 1974, followed by a master's degree in wildlife biology in 1977. Craig was particularly interested in ornithology and completed his thesis about the Harlequin duck in Glacier Park. There are many photographs of Craig in Glacier Park, where he'd often stay in a tent for long periods of time while he studied, caught, and banded Harlequin ducks. Craig had designs on earning a PhD, a plan that was cut short soon after it began. While beginning research on Canada geese from a remote field camp in the Alaska arctic, Craig came down with a severe inner ear infection, requiring a military medevac helicopter to air lift him out. Rather than pursue a career in wildlife research, Craig decided he could put his science background to use in teaching.

Craig and Joan moved to Florence in 1978 and put down roots. Craig began teaching biology at Florence Carlton High School (FCHS). They welcomed their first son, Jeffrey, in 1978, followed by a second son, Jeremy, in 1982. The family built their dream home in rural Montana: a log house with a 360-degree view of the Bitterroot Valley, where he would spend the remainder of his life.

Craig taught at FCHS for 38 years before retiring in 2016. He was an institution at FCHS and built a strong science department during his tenure. He was also a committed learner, even during his working years. For a number of years, Craig spent the majority of his summers working in several genetic research laboratories at the University of Montana. Craig then incorporated what he worked on and learned into his teaching curriculum.  Much of his legacy results from those years of teaching. Legions of students spanning decades still describe Mr. Kuchel at their favorite teacher and credit him for interest and careers in the sciences.

And there are myriad stories from his lengthy career. He would tell the story – as would his students – of a particular field trip to the National Bison Range in the late 1980s where an apparently upset bighorn ram was chasing him, such that he was on one side of a tree and the ram on the other, the tree being the only thing between them. Only after all the students had safely gotten on the bus did Craig then make his own run for the open bus door – with the ram in pursuit – while carrying a spotting scope over his shoulder and his students watching on. (He made it, and the ram then chased the bus.)

Many of Craig's past Bio II students will recall one project in particular – "The Chocolate Cow" – which required students to apply the genetics curriculum being taught to an assumption that chocolate milk resulted from the expression of a gene and then develop a plan for creating sequencing so that a cow would produce chocolate milk.

Craig's passion for teaching, and his constant innovation, did not go unnoticed by those outside of the student body. He was recognized with multiple awards over his storied teaching career. For example, in 1986, Craig was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, presented by then President Reagan. The award is described as the "nation's highest honors for K-12 teachers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics."  In 1994, Craig was one of 100 teachers nationwide awarded the Tandy Technology Scholar award for K-12 teachers.  In 2008, Craig was awarded the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year award.  In 2010, Craig was one of 34 teachers nationwide recognized as and awarded the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers. These several recognitions are but representative examples.

Despite the accolades, Craig was a humble man. He did not seek out individual gain or pursue a personal agenda. He loved being an educator and making a difference. He was proud of his students, which included his two sons, both of whom he taught at FCHS. Both agree that he was probably their hardest teacher. Craig would often advocate for his students and was also known to champion for his fellow teachers.

Craig had high standards but was also patient and compassionate. He worked hard and expected his students, his family, and others around him to do the same. Still, he approached almost every situation with some degree of humor, even when it was hidden behind a gruff façade (which was typically temporary).

Craig loved living life, especially life outdoors. Some of his favorite times involved his many rafting trips down the Grand Canyon with his brother, Gary, as well as talking about and showing his family the pictures (slides, usually) of those trips. Jeffrey and Jeremy's childhood summers were filled with whitewater rafting and camping trips, as well birdwatching trips to Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge and the National Bison Range, where Craig could, almost without fail, identify the myriad bird species just by their calls. Even after Jeffrey and Jeremy were adults, he and Joan continued their camping and birding trips, always accompanied by their faithful canine companions. Craig and Joan loved taking trips to the Sweet Palace in Phillipsburg, and his purchases therefrom (and the candy aisles of various other stores) will be discovered stashed all around the house for years to come.

While Craig devoted much of his life to a legacy of teaching, he did the same for his beloved family. Just as he inspired his students, Craig instilled in his sons the love of the outdoors, his sense of justice, and a passion for learning. He loved his wife with all his heart and made sure she knew it up until the last hours of his life. After Craig's passing, his family found a note that Joan had written to him following their first date – Craig had carried it with him in his wallet his whole life since then. And he felt the same way about his two sons, Jeffrey and Jeremy, whom he adored and of whom he was extremely proud. He delighted in his grandchildren and enjoyed teaching them about anything and everything.

Craig's profound impact on his students, his family, and his friends cannot be overstated. He will be forever missed.

Craig is survived by his wife, Joan; his sons, Jeffrey and Jeremy (Brienne); his grandchildren, Preston, Kennedy, and Riley; his three beloved English Setters, Ike, Ollie, and Hogan; his brother Gary (Carolyn) and his children; and sister Vickie Siefert, and her children. He is preceded in death by his parents, E.R. and Keith Kuchel.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., at Florence Carlton High School in the gymnasium. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to your charity of your choice.