Jean Kauffman

KALONA ? Jean Kauffman, 92, of Kalona, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, in Pleasantview Home in Kalona.

Celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 3, at Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church with the Rev. Elmer Miller officiating. Burial will be in the Upper Deer Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m., and from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday at Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for Iowa City Hospice and Gospel Echoes. Yoder-Powell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Kauffman was born March 27, 1924, near Iowa City, the daughter of Gideon and Hester (Kusart Hochstedler) Christner. She married Jacob M. Kauffman of rural Wellman on July 25, 1944.

She grew up and lived in the Kalona, Wellman and Keota communities. She was a member of the Upper Deer Creek Mennonite Church, where she taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school, and was active in the sewing circle. She volunteered at the Crowded Closet and Prison Fellowship.

Surviving are her husband, Jacob Kauffman of Kalona; six children, Joyce Baron and husband Richard of Sahuarita, Arizona, John Kauffman and wife Barb of Wellman, Jerry Kauffman of Kalona, Julia Jantzi and husband Dr. Phill Jantzi of Strasburg, Pennsylvania, Jo Firkins and husband Jeff of Iowa City, and Jorge Kauffman and wife Jenny of Lancaster, California; one daughter-in-law, Vicki Kauffman of Liberal, Kansas; one son-in-law, Russell Miller of Kalona; 17 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one brother, James Christner and wife Darlene of Canton, Georgia; and two sisters, Ada Hershberger of Rainy River, Ontario, Canada, and Anne Hoogenboom of Goshen, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Jeffrey Kauffman, and James M. Kauffman; one daughter, Jan Miller; one daughter-in-law, Mary Kauffman; and one brother, Willard Christner.