Memorial service scheduled for Maurice John Kaufmann

A memorial service will take place at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 24, 2025, at the First Mennonite Church of Bluffton with Pastor Phil Yoder to officiate the service. Visitation will take place from 10:00-11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 24, 2025 at the church. 

Maurice John Kaufmann, 95, passed away April 1, 2025 at Mercy Health - St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima. Maurice was born November 11, 1929 in Hopedale, Illinois to the late Henry and A. Lora (Diegel) Kaufmann. On June 9, 1951 he married Mary (Bauman) Kaufmann who preceded her in death on July 24, 2007. He later married Elda Unruh in 2008 and she survives.

Maurice was a 1952 graduate of Bluffton College and earned his Ph.D. in plant pathology at the University of Illinois in 1957. He served with Mennonite Central Committee in Paraguay for three years, then taught at Bluffton College for thirty years. Maurice was a member of First Mennonite Church in Bluffton. He enjoyed camping and bird watching while traveling with his family. 

Survivors include four daughters, Janet (Shawn) Euphrat of Rio Rico, Arizona, Marcia (Marcus Mueller) Kaufmann of Memphis, Tennessee, Carol (Steve) Baskauf of Bluffton, Ohio, Anita (Mike Pellacore) Badertscher of Rio Rico, Arizona; five grandchildren, Daniel Euphrat, Carmen Baskauf, Jessie Baskauf, Lauren Badertscher and Ryan Badertscher and a sister, Katherine (Albert) Bauman of Columbus, Ohio. 

Maurice was preceded in death by a grandson, Greg Euphrat; four brothers, Howard Kaufmann, Glenn Kaufmann, David Kaufmann and Harold Kaufmann and a sister, Ruth King.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Maurice and Mary Bauman Kaufmann Scholarship at Bluffton University.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com/

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