Tillman "Tim" Clyde Kauffman

Tillman (Tim) Clyde Kauffman

April 9, 1919 - September 3, 2002

Tim was born on April 9, 1919 in Kenmare, North Dakota to Daniel B. and Mattie Kauffman, the 12th of 15 children.  When he was 6 months old, the family moved from North Dakota to Hubbard, Oregon where he grew up. His father passed away when he was 9 years old and he then worked on the family farm to help support the family.

Tim married Elizabeth Good on March 3, 1946 in Hubbard, Oregon.  That same year, they moved to Nampa, Idaho where he farmed and operated a dairy for 30 years.  During their farming years, Tim & Elizabeth reared four daughters, milked 40-60 cows daily, and grew a variety of crops.  In 1976 they moved to Oregon City, Oregon where he worked as a school custodian until his retirement at the age of 62.

In 1988, Tim & Elizabeth moved to Tucson, AZ, and in 1990 to Sun Village in Surprise, AZ where they have resided since.  Tim stayed active during his retirement, volunteering with meals-on-wheels, riding his bike, hiking, swimming, keeping up on sports scores (especially the Phoenix Suns and the Diamondbacks) and traveling. 

Approximately three years ago, Tim suffered a serious stroke that left him unable to swallow.  This has been a difficult time, but Tim maintained a beautiful spirit.  His faith in God sustained him and helped him maintain his cheerful attitude.  He said on several occasions, “If God doesn’t heal me, then that’s how God wants me to be.”   He was well known and remembered in Sun Village for his happy smile as he would daily bicycle around the Village streets, use the community pool, and exercise in the work-out room.  He made friends easily and was always kind and friendly to everyone he met. 

Tim was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Raymond, Minnie, Ben, Grace, Paul, Chester, Charles, Lela William, Daniel, Freeman and Ruth.  He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, four daughters, Karen (Robert) Weaver, Joy (Badawe) Khader, Rhoda (Greg) Denny and Faith (Rolland) Bonds, two sisters, Mabel and Orpha, 8 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and 5 step-great-grandchildren.

Tim’s quiet, gentle nature will be greatly missed by his family and the many friends he made.  Earth’s loss is truly heaven’s gain!  For believers in Jesus, “absent from the body means to be present with the Lord.”

Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 14th at 2:00 p.m. at the First Mennonite Church in Nampa, Idaho.  Contributions in Tim’s memory may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee, 21 South 12th Street, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501-0500.