Margaret E. Kauffman

Margaret E. Kauffman, 91, of Columbia City, Ind., passed away at 12:43 p.m. Monday, February 1, 2016 at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne. Born August 24, 1924 in Union Township of Whitley County, she was the daughter of Robert Kenneth and Eloise Ellen (Tucker) Briggs.

She attended her first year of school at Collins in Smith Township. The family moved back to Union Township during her second year, and she was then enrolled in the Coesse Elementary school. She would go on to graduate from Coesse High School with the Class of 1942. On September 22, 1942, Margaret would marry Kenyon G. Kauffman in Chandler, Ariz., where he was serving with the U.S. Army Air Corps. After Kenyon was honorably discharged in October of 1945, the couple established their first home in Union Township, just north of Coesse. In March of 1955, they relocated to their newly purchased farm in Columbia Township. She assisted her husband in the operation and management of the family farm. One of her favorite tasks was helping her husband and sons, Kraig, Robert and John, care for their small flock of sheep. She especially enjoyed the baby lambs and usually had two or three being bottle fed and made pets. In October of 1979, Kenyon would pass away and Margaret continued to live on the farm and manage the farm operation.

On March 1, 1986, Margaret retired as a secretary/bookkeeper from the Whitley County Department of Public Welfare after 12 years of employment. Previously she was the office secretary for the Whitley County Plan Commission for two years, worked during WWII for the Civil Service in the U.S. Army Air Corp, and has served as deputy for her husband, Kenyon G. Kauffman, when he was elected to the office of Whitley County Recorder from 1952 until 1959.

On October 21, 1986, she was married to F. Glen Johnson in the Pierceton Methodist Church and she would move to South Whitley to live with him in his home. She returned back to her family farm in 1997 and continued to live there, except for the winter months, when she would stay in Arizona. Margaret had been a member of the Grace Lutheran Church, Post #98 Auxiliary of American Legion, Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge #1906 Auxiliary, Columbia City, and the Retired Indiana Public Employees Assoc.

Survivors include her son, John A. (Sue) Kauffman of Columbia City; daughter-in-law, Terry Kauffman-Martin of Huntington; sister-in-law, Joan Briggs of Fort Wayne; 9 grandchildren, Christopher (Angie) Kauffman, Kenyon W. (Tara) Kauffman, Sarah Kauffman, Leander Kauffman, Kinsey Kauffman, Corinne Kauffman, Selma Kauffman, Cody Martin, Brandon (Jolene) Davis; 4 great-grandchildren, Chloe, Caleb, Scarlet and Samuel Kauffman. She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Kenyon Kauffman; second husband, F. Glen Johnson; sons, Kraig and Robert K. Kauffman; daughter-in-law, Susan Kauffman; brothers, Richard K. and Charles Briggs; sister, Kathryn Allen; and Arlene Briggs Rex.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 5, 2016 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the funeral home with Pastor Matthew Converse officiating. Burial will follow at Union Township Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given in her memory to the Humane Society of Whitley County, the Historical Society or National Kidney Foundation. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book.