Virginia J (Krehbiel) Kaufman, 100, passed away March 20, 2024, at The Cedars, McPherson, KS. The oldest in the family of 8, she was born in Elyria, KS on March 2, 1924, to Jonathan J and Bertha B (Waltner) Krehbiel.
The family lived in Pretty Prairie where Virginia attended school. They moved to Conway when she was a 7th grader. As a freshman she lived with her grandparents in Pretty Prairie. She was back home the next year attending high school in Windom where she graduated in 1943. She attended Bethel College for one year and then worked in Elyria where she lived with her Uncle Chris Krehbiel. She later moved to McPherson where she and her sister Ruth rented a basement apartment. She worked at a Food Mart but lost her job due to her religious beliefs.
She married Elmer L Kaufman on July 22, 1945, at the Eden Mennonite Church. Patricia Kay was born in 1946 and sadly passed 3 months later. Shortly thereafter Elmer was diagnosed with TB and spent time in Norton, KS, at the sanatorium. When he recovered, they returned to the Kaufman farm and eventually were blessed with 5 children, Pamela Sue, Cameron Brent, Steven Jay, Kevin Lee and Darin Todd.
Virginia taught children’s Wednesday night classes and volunteered in the nursery at the Eden Church. As a member of the Centennial Missionary Society, she helped with quilting and bible quizzes. She was always busy, crocheting, needlepointing, knitting or hand quilting. She loved auctions and collected antiques which she enjoyed refinishing. Providing for family was very important to her which led to gardening and canning, putting up produce in the freezer, and raising chickens. She was a very good baker, making delicious pies, cinnamon rolls, pecan nut rolls and “mak kuchen”. Being an excellent seamstress, she made clothing for the whole family and was also known to make her own laundry soap. In her later years she enjoyed playing bridge.
Virginia was a natural at sales, selling Amway, Avon, Saladmaster Cookware, Watkins, and Nature’s Sunshine. She found her niche when she opened The Rural Rooster in 1981 in the garage on the farm. It quickly grew and an additional room was added. In 1999 the Rural Rooster transitioned to Main Street McPherson. She worked hard and retired at age 88 after 31 years of operating a successful business.
Virginia was proud to achieve her birthday milestone on March 2, which was celebrated by many family members “visiting”, cake and her favorite poppyseed rolls.
She is survived by her children, Pamela (George III) Gunter of Weatherby Lake, MO, Cameron (Lucinda) Kaufman of Buhler, Steven (Sheri) Kaufman of McPherson, Kevin (Julie) Kaufman of McPherson, and Darin (Cynthia) Kaufman of Overland Park, KS; fourteen grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; sister JoAnn Funk of Newton, KS; and many nieces and nephews.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, parents, daughter, Patricia Kay, brothers, Homer and Myron Krehbiel, and sisters, Ruth Goering, Dorothy Davis, Marilyn Ollenburger, and Carolyn Norris.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 5, 2024 at Eden Mennonite Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Following the committal service, a light lunch will be served in the fellowship room. Family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 4 at Moundridge Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Eden Mennonite Church in care of Moundridge Funeral Home.