Former Sweet Home resident John Z. Kaufman, 93, died on the morning of May 18, 2010.
He was born March 11, 1917, in Saco, Mont., to David W. and Lola (Trader) Kaufman. When he was 5 years old the family moved to McMinnville, where he attended Cook School, worked at Miller
Brothers Melon Farm, delivered papers, and had various other jobs.
As a teen he moved to Warrenton and graduated from Warrenton High in 1934. In October of 1934 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, and helped build several of the parks on the Central Oregon coast. While working on the Yaquina Bay Park, in Newport, he met the love of his life, Margaret. They
married Oct. 9, 1937, and soon moved to Warrenton where Mr. Kaufman worked in a lumber mill.
He was drafted into the Army, and the family moved to Fort MacArthur, Calif., after their third child was born in 1946,
Mr. Kaufman was discharged and the family moved back to Oregon, eventually settling in Sweet Home where he bought acreage with timber. He logged, built a small sawmill, farmed, built a new home for the family, and owned a grocery store while in Sweet Home.
In 1961 he bought acreage in Sheridan and the family moved there. He raised cattle, and always had a big garden. He worked at Willamina Lumber for many years and retired as head sawyer.
Mr. Kaufman was an avid fisherman and loved clamming and crabbing.
While living in Sweet Home there were times when the family was up and in the car by 4 a.m., on their way to the coast, because there was a good clam tide.
While living in Sheridan, most every week the family would be off to their little cabin on Neatarts Bay. Anything to do with the coast made him happy.
Mr. Kaufman was a member of the Sheridan Nazarene Church. After retirement, he spent much of his time planning and building the new church with other members. He was also treasurer there for many years.
He is survived by four daughters, Maxine of McMinnville; Joanne of Monmouth; Nancy of Albany; Helen of Clackamas; son, John Jr., of McMinnville; six grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Margaret (Rhoades) Kaufman, in 2001; and brothers, Victor, Edward, and David Jr.