Kauffman, Ervin Jacob (1939-2005)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Mar 7 p. 11

Birth date: 1939 Apr 5

text of obituary:

ERVIN JACOB KAUFFMAN

Ervin Jacob Kauffman, 65, of Portland, Ore., died Feb. 15, 2005. He was born April 5, 1939, to Carl and Elizabeth Kauffman in Creston (now Kalispell), Mont.

He graduated from Western Mennonite School in Salem in 1958. The 1958 school yearbook described him as "dependable," "always busy," and "a witness for Christ," characteristics he maintained for the remainder of his life. He attended Eastern Mennonite College before graduating from Portland State University.

He married Ruth Driver on Sept. 11, 1965.

He served as the chief sanitarian for Multnomah County, where he worked for 30 years. He was an active member of Portland Mennonite Church and served as chair of the school board of Western Mennonite School for six years.

After retiring in 1999, he continued to be "always busy." He and Ruth volunteered frequently at Drift Creek Camp and with Mennonite Disaster Service and Mennonite Central Committee at various locations across the country. He also volunteered in Portland, namely for FISH Emergency Services, picking up food donations.

During his retirement he enjoyed riding his recumbent bicycle, baking bread, traveling to the Oregon coast and woodworking. He spent many hours in his shop in the basement making beds and dressers for his kids, a grandfather clock for his wife, a high chair for his grandchildren and intricate bird houses to sell at the Mennonite Fall Festival in Albany, a fund-raiser for MCC. His woodworking was just one of many ways that he shared his love and generosity with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth; three children, Yolanda Kauffman and her husband, Eric Massanari, of Newton, Kan., Sonya Kauffman Smith and her husband, Matthew, of Portland, and Jae Kauffman and his wife, Jessica Fairbanks, of Seoul, Korea; a sister, Nadine Gerig of Albany; a brother, Marvin Kauffman of Albany; and two grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Fern Kauffman; and a brother, Gerald Kauffman.

Services were held at Portland Mennonite Church.