Kaufman, Edmund G. (1891-1980)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1980 Feb 21 p. 3

Birth date: 1891 Dec 26

Text of obituary:

President Emeritus of Bethel College Dies at 88

Guided School through the Depression

NORTH NEWTON, KAN. — Dr. Edmund G. Kaufman, president emeritus of Bethel College, died Thursday, Feb. 14, at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton. He was 88.

Kaufman was Bethel's president for 20 years, from 1932 to 1952, and continued teaching religion and philosophy on the North Newton campus until 1964. As an administrator, he is credited with guiding the school through the extreme financial difficulties of the Depression years and gaining North Central Association accreditation in 1938 — the earliest such recognition achieved by a Mennonite college.

Funeral services were conducted Monday afternoon at the Bethel College Mennonite Church with Pastor John Esau officiating.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1980 Mar 11 p. 174

Text of obituary:

Edmund G. Kaufman, president emeritus of Bethel College, North Newton, Kansas. He was 88. Kaufman was Bethel's president for 20 years, from 1932 to 1952, and continued teaching religion and philosophy on the North Newton campus until 1964. Born 26 December 1891 near Moundridge, Kansas, Kaufman grew up in the Eden Mennonite Church community. Kaufman earned the master's degree at Bluffton (Ohio) College in 1917 and then served for eight years in China as an educational missionary under the foreign mission board of the General Conference. Survivors include his wife, Edna; a son, Gordon D., Lexington, Massachusetts; a daughter, Karolyn Zerger, Kansas City, Missouri; two brothers, Ray J., Newton, and Paul D., Moundridge; and a sister, Elsie Schrag, Moundridge.