Kaufman, John C. (1879-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Aug 2 p. 6

Birth date: 1879 Oct 11

text of obituary:

— A number of relatives from this area attended funeral services at the Salem Mennonite Church near Freeman, S. D. on Monday for Rev. John C. Kaufman, who died in South Dakota after a long illness. Rev. D. J. Unruh of Newton assisted in the service. Rev. Kaufman was a former pastor of the Hopefield Church near Moundridge and the Emmaus church near Whitewater, moving to South Dakota in 1948. A daughter, Mrs. Orlando Claassen, resides in the Whitewater community.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Aug 16 p. 8

text of obituary:

John C. Kaufman was born in Turner County, South Dakota, on Oct. 11, 1879. He was the youngest child of Rev. Christian and Anna Stucky Kaufman

In addition to public school, he attended summer Bible school for several summers. This early education was supplemented by attending a higher grade institution at Mountain Lake, Minn. Later in life he did considerable Bible study through correspondence courses.

He was baptized by Rev. Joseph Kaufman on Sept. 13, 1896, and accepted as a member in the Salem Zion church. Later he became a charter member of the Salem church where he was a member at his death.

He was active in Sunday School and church work from his 19th year on. He felt called of God to serve him in a special work, and as a result, was ordained as a traveling evangelist on Sept. 13, 1925, and as a minister on June 12, 19128. he served the Northern District Conference in various capacities for approximately 12 years. In 1937 he accepted a call to the Hoffnungsfeld Church at Moundridge, Kansas. After two years he took charge of the Emmaus Church at Whitewater, Kansas, where he served for nine years, until his retireement. Besides his church and conference work he was actively engaged in the work of several Bible academies and institutions.

On Feb. 15, 1900, he was united in marriage with Anna Kauffman, daughter of Jacob P. and Katherine Schrag Kauffman. She was his faithful companion and helpmate for almost 32 years, until the Lord took her home on Dec. 21, 1931. To this union were born eight children, seven sons and one daughter. One son died at birth.

On Jan. 22, 1933, God gave him another companion in Bertha Sprunger of Berne, Ind. She shared his joys and trials for over 23 years.

He was afflicted with diabetes for a number of years, to which were added in recent years, other complications. This condition together with his age gradually weakened him. On April 4 he had to submit to surgery for ruptured appendix, from which he seemed unable to fully recover.

He was released form all cares and trials at 12:50 a. m. July 27, 1956. He lived on this earth for 76 years, nine months and 16 days, and lives now with his Savior for all eternity.

His passing is mourned by his bereaved wife, Bertha; six sons, Oliver, Harry, Edgar, Wesley, Christ, and Menno, and one daughter, Florence, Mrs. Orlando Claasen; five daughters-in-law and one son-in-law. He also leaves 20 grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Four grandchildren preceded him in death. He was the last member of the Christian Kaufman family, being survived by two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Tobias Kaufman and Mrs. Jacob C. Kaufman.

Funeral services were held Sunday, July 29, at the Walter funeral home and the Salem Mennonite Church, with Rev. Daniel J. Unruh officiating assisted by Rev. H. P. Fast of Marion, S. D.