Orson Meredith Kauffman, son of Louis and Esther Bush Kauffman, was born August 26, 1923, on a farm near Littleport, Iowa. He was a 1941 graduate of Edgewood-Colesburg High School and played on their state championship baseball team.
On May 24, 1944, Orson was united in marriage with Betty Jean Culbertson at the Arlington Methodist Church. Orson had worked for various farms prior to marriage when he and his wife farmed together until he became assistant manager at the Arlington Co-op. He moved to the Fredericksburg Co-op and later the Readlyn Co-op, where he also was the assistant manager. He later became part owner of the Fridley Feed Mill in Sumner before moving to Lebanon, Missouri and owned and operated Kauffman Limousin Cattle Ranch. He sold insurance for Farm Bureau and worked for a time at the Laclede County Courthouse in Lebanon. In 1999, he and Betty returned to Sumner and retired.
Orson’s death occurred peacefully on Saturday, December 11, 2010, at his home in Sumner surrounded by his loving family. He was 87 years old and a member of the United Methodist Church in Sumner.
He is survived by two sons, Morrie Kauffman of Waterloo and Monte Kauffman of Prosper, Texas; three daughters, Marlys Thomas of Lebanon, Missouri, Mavis Kauffman of New Hampton, and Marlene (Charles) Dial of Linn Creek Missouri; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-six great grandchildren; one sister, Maxine Penney of Eugene, Oregon; two sisters-in-law, Delores Kauffman of Independence and Emogene Kauffman of Strawberry Point; and many nieces and nephews.
Orson was preceded in death by his wife, Betty in 2006; his son, Michael in 2008; his parents; three brothers, Lloyd, Doyle, and Clifford; and two sisters, Bonita and Imogene.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 17, 2010, at the United Methodist Church in Sumner with Hugh Mackintosh officiating. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 16, 2010, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and for one hour preceding services at the church on Friday. Interment will be at Union Mound Cemetery in Sumner. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the United Methodist Church in Sumner or the Community Memorial Hospital Building Fund.
