Father of Rep. Kenny Hulshof dies after collapsing at home

BERTRAND, Mo. -- Paul Hulshof, father of U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, died early Friday after collapsing at his Southeast Missouri home. He was 68.

The cause of his death was not immediately known, Hulshof's office said. But the elder Hulshof had battled lung cancer for several months and underwent radiation treatment earlier this year.

Paul Everett Hulshof lived and farmed in Bertrand, about 10 miles from Sikeston. He was born and raised in Southeast Missouri, graduated from Portageville High School and attended Southwest Missouri State University. He also served in the National Guard.

His son won election Nov. 5 to a fourth term representing central and northeast Missouri. The younger Hulshof took time off in August to help his father with the corn harvest.

"It's extraordinary, having this opportunity to work alongside of him again, and just to respect him for who he is, and what he is, and the wisdom and knowledge that he has," Hulshof said at the time. "This is a time I'm sure I'm going to cherish, whether Dad is not here next year, or whether he's here for another 20."

Paul Hulshof viewed his son with mutual regard.

"What surprised me is, he still remembered so much," the father said. "There was no retraining at all."

The elder Hulshof also is survived by his wife of 47 years, Geri; son and daughter-in-law, Kenny and Renee Hulshof; and granddaughter, Casey.

Hulshof spokeswoman Ianthe Jackson said funeral arrangements were pending.