NORTH MANCHESTER – Raymond L. Kauffman, 88, of North Manchester, died at 1:41 p.m. Oct. 30, 2012, in Peabody Retirement Community, after a debilitating battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He was born July 28, 1924, in Abilene, Kan., to Clyde L. and Wilna Cutler Kauffman. He married Ramona Harshman, who survives. He grew up in Kansas City, Mo., and graduated from Central High School in 1942. Upon graduation he entered the U.S. Army and served as Tec 5 Corporal in the 481st Light Pontoon Company. He served in the European Theatre of Operations and was awarded three Battle Stars, including one for the Battle of the Bulge. Favorably discharged from the Army in 1946, he enrolled in the University of Missouri where he played football, was initiated into the Kappa Sigma fraternity and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1949. He began a career in insurance in 1949 as the Marion branch office manager of the Chicago Motor Club. He joined Wetzel Insurance Agency in 1957, becoming Wetzel’s president in 1968. He earned his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation in 1964 and served as the president of the Indiana Mutual Agents Association, later known as the Indiana Professional Insurance Agents in 1968. He retired from Wetzel in 1992. He served his community as president of the North Manchester Chamber of Commerce, president of the Lions Club, president of the Manchester Community Schools Parent Teacher Association, trustee of the United Methodist Church; and board member of the Indiana Lawrence Bank. He taught Sunday school, coached safety awareness to driver’s training students, and lectured in general insurance at Manchester College. He was a member of the Deming Masonic Lodge, Sycamore Golf Club and Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. Surviving are his devoted spouse of 61 years, Ramona; three children: Laura Kauffman, Fort Wayne; Ellen (and spouse George III) Perry, Zionsville; and Byron (and spouse Jane), Leesburg; a daughter-in-law, Kate, Naperville, Ill.; nine grandchildren: Nicole Fultz; George IV, Laura Beth and Mathew Perry; and Kayla, Derek, Tripp, Gramm and Brynn Kauffman; and a great-grandson, Colton Fultz. He was preceded in death by a son, Raymond. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church, North Manchester. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester. Calling is from 4 to 7 Friday at McKee Mortuary, 1401 Ind. 114W, North Manchester, with a Masonic Service at 7 p.m. Friday. ***** Memorials may be made to North Manchester United Methodist Church, 306 E. Second St., North Manchester, IN 46962. Condolences may be sent via mckeemortuary.com
