Kauffman, Kathryn Schrag (1863-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Dec 8 p. 5

Birth date: 1863 Apr 10

text of obituary:

. . .

— Relatives here received word of the passing of Mrs. Jacob P. Kauffman of Marion, S. D. on Sunday. She was 86 years of age. A daughter, Mrs. Henry Goering, and son, Charles Kauffman, curator of the Kauffman Museum, reside at North Newton. At present Mr. Kauffman is a patient at the Bethel Deaconess hospital after being struck by a car several weeks ago. His wife and Mr. and Mrs. Goering left for South Dakota on Monday to attend the funeral services, which were scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the Salem-Zion church.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Dec 22 p. 3

text of obituary:

MRS. KATHRYN KAUFFMAN

Mrs. Kathryn (Schrag) Kauffman, daughter of Rev. John and Anna Graber Schrag, was born April 10, 1863, in the Province of Volhynia, Waldheim, Russia. She was the youngest in the family of four brothers and four sisters, all of whom have preceded her in death.

In June 1874 along with the mass migration of her people she came to America with her widowed father for whom she kept house on their farm southwest of Marion, South Dakota. She was baptized by her father and became and remained a faithful member of the Salem-Zion Mennonite church.

In 1879 she was married by her father to Jacob P. Kauffman. To this marriage were born five sons and six daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters have preceded her in death. She lived in wedlock with her husband until Nov. 21, 1934, when he died, a period of 55 years. Since then she had lived as widow 15 years, She died Sunday evening, Dec. 4, 1949, at the age of a little over 86 and one-half years from infirmities and complications accompanying old age.

Being one of the pioneers, she suffered the wants and privations common to her people but it seemed that she was destined to more than the average share of trials and afflictions. Through an accident, her three year old son, Ben, lost his leg. Shortly thereafter it was noticed that her next son was a deaf mute. During the influenza epidemic of 1918 death claimed a son, John, and daughter, Laura, both in the prime of life, within a period of five days.

Later death repeatedly wounded her heart as it claimed her oldest daughter, Anna, her husband, her sons Ben and Edwin and son-in-law Jonath. B. L. Graber. So that at the time of her death her husband and six children await to greet and welcome her as she enters eternity while only five children remain here to accompany her remains to the grave.

Four years ago she broke her hip which caused her severe suffering. Less than a year later, she again fell and broke her other hip. In her old age, her hearing and sight began to fail so that she not only had to give up church attendance but it also limited the benefits which she derived from the many visitors which she so greatly cherished. Her failing sight impaired her ability to read. This made hers a secluded, lonely life.

One aspect of her nature was remarkably demonstrated by her attitude towards these trials and sufferings. Many people would have become embittered and would have grumbled. She never complained but looked upon them as a means by which her Savior drew her nearer to Himself, and thanked Him for it

She was frugal by necessity (pioneer life demanded it) and industrious by nature. These were two habits that she practiced throughout life. She read much, and she memorized many songs as a reserve for the time when her eyesight might fail her, from which she later received much comfort.

Her mother died when she was very young so that she never knew a mother's love, yet she herself was a loving, sacrificing, providing, patient, devoted mother and wonderful mother-in-law, who in the last years had often prayed to her Savior that He might take her to her eternal home.

Funeral services were conducted in the Salem-Zion church by Rev. Russell Mast, with Rev. A. P. Waltner and Rev. Willard K. Claassen assisting. Interment in Salem-Zion cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1950 Jan 3 p. 11