Grandpa Kauffman, even though we didn't know eachother that good, i still remember how good to me you were while i was a child. i miss those days of when u and grandma lived 22nd ave west. i will never forget u and u will be very missed by me and alot people. one day we will c eachother again, till then i love u.

Grandpa, you will be missed but never forgotten.  <3

Gramps,
I never would have guessed there could be so much healing through so much pain. Relationships are tricky and life is messy. Surprises seem to be the only thing predictable. Our relationship has been one of those surprises.

All of us grandkids share fond memories of "Popcorn Fridays" - snuggled on your's or Gram's lap, up way past bedtime watching "Alfred Hitchcock" and "The Twilight Zone". I doubt I will ever eat pistacios, ring bologna or baby swiss ever without stopping to think about you. And whenever I hear the song "Grandpa" I am sure to be brought to tears.

Through life's messy and predictable surprises, I found myself caring for you - a sort of role reversal that at first was likely uncomfortable for both of us. Between over-flowing bowls of popcorn and terminal cancer diagnoses, our relationship has had many seasons. Perhaps it was the timing of our shared vulnerabilities that allowed us to transform our relationship into something that I think took us both by surprise. I don't pretend to understand the how's and why's of life anymore and I think the lingering "Goodbye" to you has helped me to realize that none of it matters anyway. I have learned that it is far more important to really talk to those we love and care about; to ask them what is in their hearts, find out who they really are. I certainly cherish all of the "talks" we shared about death as well as life for that matter.

In the 6 months I spent helping to care for you, I learned you didn't just "put your time in" in the military. You were a proud man for a reason - you left a legacy of a distinguished service career. I discovered that under that "proud (stubborn German!) man" exterior, your heart ached not for yourself and your impending death, but for leaving Gram and "all you kids". I experienced a soul not concerned about what people thought about him, but deeply hopeful that God would find him acceptable. 

In caring for you I saw a new tenderness with Gram, a peacefull manner (I must admit I was shocked at how easily you gave in during disagreements!) and tempered patience as you allowed each of us to do for you what a proud man no longer could. Regardless of military accomplishments or other life achievments, I saw more courage and strength in you then. Where you had once been struggling in pain for years and quick to anger, you had settled into acceptance and looked for words to comfort those of us now in pain for you.

I am so completely grateful for the time I got to know you in this way. While such a long goodbye hurt, it was such a blessing too. There are things that I do regret and ways I feel I let you down. I am so deeply sorry. I wish I could have honored your wishes and sung at your funeral - I hope you heard me from my seat. After spending time with you and Gram in the end, I doubt I would have been emotionally able to do it. I hope you and Gram will accept the trade-off. Personally, I wouldn't trade our time and healed relationship for a song anyday.

I love you Gramp~

  Hey Dad,There are a few things I'd like to share that are fundimental to me in my life today.When I was young there was a saying that you'd repeated to me regularly "I Can't Never Did Anything" You know that kid of baffelled me for awhile. Today I understand it. It is one of meny little saying that I am sure was designed to help me stay focused. A son could not have been blessed with a better representative of a father than my brother and myself. As a family we were a team with you being the head and mom right beside you.The family was indivisabe because of the unity we had, it was a strong foundation and it ingrained into me how a family is suppose to be. Today I hold these values close and use them to set the stage of my life.Some times Life has a wierd way of resetting it self as it did in our family.Dad,you found a wonderfull woman in Romana & began a new life that, as I found out,seamed to be both fruitfull and fullfilling.I took a chance to come up to Minn.and what a wonderfull event that was.You really hadn't changed & you found a woman who encouraged and excited you. What could be wrong with that.In the time since I've had the honor of meeting my step siglings who were and are influenced by your participation in their lives they all love you & will remember you fondly.I'd like to thank you all or helping me feel comfortable in what could have been an awkward time.Ramona,I'd like to express my gratitude for finding my father and loving him thru it all.I can see why it was so easy for my father to fall in Love with you.I Love you to Romana and plan on staying in touch & keeping you in my prayers   Dad thanks for so meny sweet and precious memeries that will keep me & my spirit lifted in the hard time to come.Dad thanks for showing me that fear is not the only opption Be in peace with our father in heaven PS I believe grandpa Frank has an inside line on a trully spectacular fishing trip for the both of you W/O Myrtle

Papa Hank- I love you very much.  I'm sorry that you passed away. I miss you very much. You were so kind. You were funny when you always blinked at me. I hope you're having fun with God and Jesus now. Please talk to me when I pray to you. You are so cute!

Grampa, I was very honored to do your eulogy at the funeral and can only hope that it put a smile on your face- there is so much good to say about you and there was very little time to say it. Olivia and I added a new member to our family and named him after you in your loving memory- our little Shih Tzu puppy, "Henry."  And he's the cutest!  I LOVE YOU GRAMPA!

Grandpa, 
I just want you to know that I Love You and I'm going to miss you very much. I feel really bad that I wasn't around to spend more time with you before and after you got sick. I regret it more than anything. I just want you to know that you are very special to me even though I wasn't around as much as I wanted to be. I will always remember the good memories we shared together, such as:
All the summers we spent up at the cabin. The trailer rides we took on the back of the lawnmower and feeding the sunfish bread from the dock. I really wish we still had that place. 
I remember the summer we spent exploring Washington. I know me and Lee were a handful (heck, we still are) but somehow you seemed to tolerate us :) I remember being 4 or 5 years old and Lee having me so scared of kidnappers that I was afraid to wait at the bus stop. I would hide in the bushes and miss my bus and you would have to drive me to school numerous times. You would never know it but that meant so much to me. It still does. Helping raise me meant more than anything. I remember evenings at your old house. You and Grandma would make popcorn and we would all gather on the chairs in the front room and watch Alfred Hitchcock movies until bedtime. I remember you and Grandma would scratch my back for hours. When she got tired I would come over to your chair and bug you :) I loved that so much. Then at bedtime me and Lee would fight over who got to sleep in the "crack" of your bed. (the middle). I used to love sleeping in there with the fan on and the window open looking over the city at all the lights and the stars in the sky. There are so many memories of you that I love and cherish and I think about them all the time. You helped make my childhood special and I'll never forget that. I feel terrible that I didn't make it to your funeral, but I am thankful for the chance to talk to you before you left. I pray to you every night Grandpa, I hope you can hear me. 
I Love You!
                 Bobbi Sue

My grandpa will always be missed by me and our family.  He was such a good person who was all about taking care of his family.  He was loving and caring and took his time to raise my sister and I.  He gave us a lot of the best childhood memories that anyone could ever wish for and always spent a lot of his time on holidays to make sure that the kids had the best time ever.  We all appreciate him for that and everything else he's done for us.  He was the best grandpa that anyone could ever wish for and will always be missed and thought of forever.
Love, Lee

Hank,
You have achieved immortality as you will never be forgotten.

Hank,
You will be missed so very much. You are one of a kind. It took great courage to become a part of our family. You already had 2 sons of your own. But to take on 7 more kids....I am so proud to call you my dad. You will be loved and missed throughout my lifetime. One day I will see you again.
Love, Mary

Hank,
Thank you for loving and caring for Ramona and her children. You will be missed.
Love, Bruce

Hank,
I miss you so much, but I know you are in a better place now and out of pain. When you see Neil, my Mother, Dad, Sisters and Brandy, say "hi" to them. We miss them all too. You will always be in our hearts. Had a beautiful service both at Bell Brothers and at Fort Snelling. I'll see you when I get there. Love always, Ramona

Grandpa Hank,
I really miss you.  I wish you never died.  I spent some good times with you.  I hope you had some good times with me too.  I know now that you're not suffering any more, and that's good.  Love, Gage

Romona and family Sad to hear of Hanks passing.May he rest in peace.My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Hank,I surely will miss you now that you're gone. With the worldly pains and strains gone also, you can now rest in peace and comfort in GOD'S promise of eternal life with him. Pease and love be with you, Gordy

Hank, While it’s very painful that you're no longer with us, I'm comforted to know that you're free of pain and in a better place now.  I’ll be thinking of you each and every day and I promise I’ll take care of mom for you.  I love you and will miss you deeply.  Love, Brenda

OBITUARIO

Mr. Henry Hank Martin Kauffman

10 julio, 1938 – 17 marzo, 2011

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