Lorene Kaufman, 87
Lorene Kaufman, 87, formerly of Freeman, S.D., passed away May 27, 2025 in Sterling, Ill. A time of viewing and visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on June 14 at the Salem Mennonite (South) Church of rural Freeman.
Lorene Maribelle Miller-Graber-Kaufman was born Sept. 6, 1937 in a home near Hurley, S.D., to Elvin J. and Elizabeth (Alston) Miller. After her father Elvin Miller died, Elizabeth moved to Wayland, Iowa where Lorene was adopted by her stepfather, Alvin Graber.
Lorene was baptized at Bethel Mennonite Church, near Wayland. She graduated from Freeman Academy in Freeman in 1956.
On April 16, 1958 she married Lawrence Kaufman at the Eicher-Emmanuel Mennonite Church near Washington, Iowa. They had four children and were foster parents for several years. They also sponsored an MCC trainee one summer.
Lorene was an active part of farm life with Lawrence, but was also involved in other community activities. At Salem Mennonite Church she was active in the Women’s Group, taught Sunday school, and was involved with the Minn-Kota Relief Sale, which included making many quilts for the sale. She enjoyed caring for her grandchildren and counting each great-grandchild a blessing. She enjoyed sewing clothes for her children and grandchildren, creating quilts, embroidery, and knitting. When Lawrence died, Lorene moved to Newton, Kansas to work in the MCC resource center as supervisor in the work room. She worked there many years and continued to volunteer with Quilters Corner helping ready things for the Kansas Relief Sale.
In 2019, Lorene moved to Illinois to be closer to her daughter, Lois. She continued to make comforter tops for the women’s group there at Science Ridge Mennonite Church.
Lorene is preceded in death by her father Elvin J Miller and mother Elizabeth and step-father Alvin Graber, her husband Lawrence, her sons Lynn Kaufman and Lee Randall Kaufman, an infant granddaughter, Laura Landis and her sister Lilah Bohn.
Left to mourn her death is her son, LeRoy Kaufman of Hurley, S.D. and daughter, Lois and Keith Landis of Sterling, daughter-in-law, Betty Kaufman of Grinnell, Iowa; 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild; sister, Lavonne and Harvey Dyck of Saskatchewan, and brother, Rodney Graber of Dallas, Tex.; three brothers-in-laws and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
