Lois Marion Kaufman, 89, of Salina, Kansas, and former Wilson, Kansas, resident died on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at the Salina Presbyterian Manor in Salina, Kansas.
Lois was born on January 24, 1930, in Kanopolis, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph F. Janda, Jr. and Verna Muriel (Snart) Janda. She grew up in the Wilson and Kanopolis area and graduated from Wilson High School in 1947. After high school, she attended Ft. Hays University and graduated with her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Education. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Orville L. Kaufman on April 26, 1952, in Dubuque, Kansas. From this union Lois and Orville were blessed with two daughters, Nathalea and Karleen. Lois’ first teaching job was teaching kindergarten through 8th grade in a one-room school house in Wilson. She later taught 3rd and 4th grade in Dorrance, Kansas and 2nd and 6th grade in Great Bend, Kansas, and was a teacher for 44 years.
She was a member of the Wilson Baptist Church in Wilson, Kansas, and Great Bend Southern Baptist Church in Great Bend, Kansas. She was a member of the KNEA, Retired Teachers Association in Great Bend, 4-H and Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority. She enjoyed being a farm wife, teaching children and playing the piano. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Surviving family include her daughters Nathalea Stephenson and husband Tim of Salina, Kansas and Karleen Williams and husband Abe of Castle Pines, Colorado; sister Darlene Palser of Russell, Kansas; sister in-law Lois Buxton of Salina, Kansas; 2 grandchildren, Brandon Stephenson and Kendra Cox and husband Tim; 4 great-grandchildren, Cameron, Mason, Quinton and Brooklyn.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Orville on November 27, 2004; brother Ivan Janda and foster brother Jim Buxton.
A celebration of Lois’ life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, at the Wilson Baptist Church in Wilson, Kansas with Pastor Tripp Edwards officiating. Burial will follow at the Wilson City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2020, at the mortuary with family greeting guests from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday evening. Memorials may be given to the Wilson Baptist Church and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary
610 N. Maple
Russell, KS 67665
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 12, 2020
