Owen R. Kaufman

Owen Raymond Kaufman, 67, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at Mercy Hospital in Moundridge, Kan. Owen was born Dec. 10, 1947, in Halstead, Kan., the son of Raymond J. Kaufman and Susan Bonebrake Kaufman. Throughout his life, he carried out his parents’ family values and traditions. He graduated from Moundridge High School in 1965. As a junior in high school, Owen met his future bride and the love of his life, Sondra (Sandy) Gile. Before their senior years, Sandy moved to California and returned a year later. Upon returning, the two reunited as lifelong soul mates, and will remain together forever. On May 28, 1966, they were married at his parents’ home in front of the fireplace. They lovingly renewed their vows in the chapel at Trinity Lutheran Church, McPherson, Kan., on May 28, 2005. Owen was drafted into the Army in June 1967 and was first stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, as a military police officer and later in Ulm, Germany, from Dec. 1967, reaching the rank of sergeant and honorably discharged in 1969. Sandy joined him in Stuttgart in 1968 where they added one of many experiences to their life together. He actively served in the American Legion Post 340. From 1969 to 1975, Owen was employed at Hesston Corporation. He started as a shear operator and moved into the manufacturing engineering department. In 1976, he was hired by Excel Industries as manufacturing engineering manager and rose to become production manager. In 2000, at the age of 53, he retired to focus on his family and pursue his passions of baseball and restoring his 1966 Ford Falcon Sports Coupe. Owen and Sandy welcomed their first son, Grant, in 1970, followed by Alex in 1978. Owen treasured every minute with his sons. When Grant was growing up, he and Owen spent countless hours in the yard playing catch, with Owen coaching Grant on his pitching skills and technique and Sandy playing pigtail. In recent years Alex and Owen also spent many hours in the yard, this time at Owen and Sandy’s house gardening, trimming trees and other yard chores they enjoyed doing together. Both sons cherish the long talks and valuable guidance Owen provided. He passed on his legacy to his sons that have made them dedicated husbands and fathers. Owen took great pride in his sons and their families. Owen’s love for baseball started at an early age playing Babe Ruth in McPherson. In 1984, Owen returned to the game by becoming the Moundridge representative to the Newton Babe Ruth League and later served as District 5 commissioner for many years. On Sept. 30, 2000, he was inducted as one of the first members of the Kansas State Babe Ruth Hall of Fame. He later served as the Midwest Plains Regional secretary as well as assistant baseball commissioner. In 2000, he was instrumental and proud to bring an eight-state Midwest Plains Regional Babe Ruth 13-year-olds baseball tournament to Moundridge. He enjoyed being involved with kids playing baseball and cherished the relationships that he built with them throughout the years. For many years, he joined the Moundridge Babe Ruth teams on their annual weekend adventure to Kansas City. The memories of these trips were monumental for both Owen, as well as the kids. For Owen, it was “Always about the kids.” In 1966, at the age of 18, Owen and Sandy ordered a 1966 Ford Falcon. When the car arrived on March 3, Owen literally drove it off the delivery truck, beginning a lifelong adventure, including whisking them away from their wedding. In 2005, at Alex’s urging, Owen started to meticulously restore “THE” Falcon to its original condition, introducing Owen and Sandy to a new chapter in their lives. They enjoyed their Falcon family friendships from the Wheat State Falcon Club, and the Mid-America Falcon Club in Kansas City. In 2013, they drove “THE” Falcon to the Falcon National Convention in Tulsa, where it took first place in its class - Owen’s most cherished award because it was voted on by his peers. Owen was baptized at Sandy’s childhood church, Trinity Lutheran, and later served on several committees, before being asked to serve as a council member. This chapter of their lives gave them peace and insight into life itself. Owen is survived by his wife Sondra, Moundridge; son Grant and wife Pam, Lawrence, Kan., and son Alex and wife Mandy, Moundridge, Kan.; sister Pam Otte and husband Lloyd, Canton, Kan., sister Priscilla Davenport and husband John, Grapevine, Texas; grandchildren Victoria and Audrey Kaufman, Hunter and Luke Peirce, Lawrence, Kan., Raymond and Paxton Kaufman, Moundridge; and brother-in-law Laurence and wife Virginia, Wichita. As Owen would tell us, “It is what it is, and it will be okay.” In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Moundridge Community Foundation Youth Fund, Moundridge Historical Association, or Trinity Lutheran Church (McPherson), in care of the funeral home.

Owen R. Kaufman

December 10, 1947 - January 8, 2015