Lorene Kaufman

Lorene Kaufman, 87, formerly of Freeman passed away May 27th in Sterling IL. A time of viewing and visitation will we held from 10AM to 11AM on June 14th at the Salem Mennonite (South) Church of rural Freeman.

In Memory of Lorene Kaufman

Lorene Maribelle Miller-Graber-Kaufman was born September 6, 1937 in a home near Hurley, South Dakota, to Elvin J. and Elizabeth (Alston) Miller. She died May 27, 2025 at Sterling, Illinois. After her father Elvin Miller died, Elizabeth moved to Wayland, Iowa where Lorene was adopted by her step-father, Alvin Graber.

Lorene was baptized at Bethel Mennonite Church, near Wayland, Iowa. She graduated from Freeman Academy in Freeman, South Dakota 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, South Dakota and daughter, Lois and Keith Landis of Sterling, Illinois, 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 Canada and brother, Rodney Graber of Dallas, Texas; 3 brother-in-law’s and many cousins, nieces and nephews.