Dolores Carmelite Kaufman was born on February 13, 1925 to John P. and Elizabeth (Ruschenberg) Blum at Defiance, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at the St. Peter’s Catholic, Church in Defiance, and graduated from St. Paul’s Catholic High School 1942.
Following high school she was employed as a secretary at the Glenn L. Martin Bomber Plant in Bellevue, Nebraska during World War II. After the plant closed, Dolores worked at Woodmen of the World Insurance Company in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1946, she returned to Earling, Iowa to care for her terminally ill mother.
On July 1, 1947, Dolores was united in marriage to Jerome Kaufman at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, Iowa. Four children were born to this union: Jacqueline, Robert, Gwendolyn and Curtis. Dolores enjoyed the country life, especially working in her vegetable and flower gardens, canning and cooking. She was an excellent seamstress and sewed many clothes for her daughters and herself. When her children were in 4-H she eagerly participated in their projects. She was also an avid reader and any spare time she spent reading. Dolores was a member of the St. Michael’s Catholic Church and the St. Michael’s Women’s Guild.
Dolores died on January 21, 2017 at the Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan, Iowa attaining the age of ninety-one years, eleven months and eight days. In addition to her parents and her husband, Jerome, she was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters: Rev. Victor Blum S.J., Sr. Roselle Blum O.S.F., Edgar Blum, Leander “Jim” Blum, Rev. Virgil Blum S.J., Lavern Blum, Edwin Blum, Ermine Blum, Cyril “Bob” Blum, Mary Ann Wilwerding and Reno Blum.
Survivors include her children Jacqueline Coenen of Overland Park, Kansas; Robert Kaufman of Earling, Iowa; Gwendolyn Kaufman of Harlan, Iowa; Curtis Kaufman of Glenwood, Iowa; ten grandchildren; two great grandchildren plus one on the way; sisters-in-law Helen Blum of Harlan, Iowa; Ethel Blum of Omaha, Nebraska; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
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