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Daniel Jacob Kauffman, age 94 of Mendon, died Saturday Nov. 28, 2009 at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers where he had resided the past 3 years. He was born in Versailles, MO on Sep. 20, 1915 the son of John S. and Lovina R. (Garber) Kauffman. The family moved to Indiana where Dan graduated from Columbia City High School in 1934. Dan was married to Virginia Wilkinson in Whitley County, IN on Sep. 27, 1940, and they moved to Mendon in 1946.
Dan engaged in general farming and was a Pioneer and Cowbell seed corn dealer.
He worked at Simpson-Lee Paper Company in Vicksburg for several years, and was also a bus driver for the Mendon school district for over 20 years. Following his retirement he continued to help his grandson on the family farm and was frequently seen mowing and cleaning the roadsides northeast of Mendon. He was a member of the Mendon Kiwanis Club where he was honored with the Hixson Award, Kiwanis’ highest honor. He was a sixty three year member of the Mendon United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir and was Sunday School Superintendent for many years.
Dan is survived by a son and daughter in law, David & Kathleen Kauffman of Mendon; a daughter and son in law, Vicki & Dale Eickhoff also of Mendon; 8 grandchildren, Matt Kauffman (Ann) of Mendon, Kelly Schumborg (Mike) and Amy Rigg (Kurt) both of Ann Arbor; Jason Eickhoff of Mendon, Brian Eickhoff of Miami, Kevin Eickhoff (Lindsey) of Byron Center, Aaron Eickhoff of Angola, and Glenn Eickhoff of Mendon; 6 great grandchildren, John & Sierra Sears, Mackenzie & Maggie Schumborg, and Emma & Molly Rigg; 2 sisters, Ann Neuenschwander (Don) of Angola and Ella Male (Bill) of Winona Lake; 2 sisters in law, Margaret Kauffman of Columbia City and Marge Kauffman of Ft. Wayne; several nieces and nephews. Dan was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Virginia in 2006; 3 brothers, John, Kenyon, and Olin Kauffman; and 2 nephews, Craig and Rob Kauffman.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon, and from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday at the Mendon United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. on Wednesday Dec. 2, 2009 at the Mendon United Methodist Church with Rev. Ward Pierce officiating. Burial will be in Mendon Cemetery. If desired, memorials may be directed to the Church. An online register is available at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com
