Larry Allen Kauffman

A recent voracious reader, Larry was three pages away from finishing the novel which had occupied his week when he decided to lay down for his afternoon nap before dinner. Who among us hasn’t felt the urge for a nap more alluring than the final few pages of a great book?

Larry’s parents, LA and Elizabeth just barely made it to town when Larry was born in McPherson, Kansas on October 7, 1929. The family had just completed a move from Abilene, Kansas, due to LA taking a new position with Brown Telephone (which later became United Telephone and then Sprint). Larry spent his childhood in McPherson and Salina, Kansas, where his father was a branch manager for United Telephone beginning in 1934.

Larry came to Kansas City in 1941, when his father accepted a transfer with Southwestern Bell. By this time, Larry’s two older brothers, Bruce and Bob, were out of the nest and embarking on their own lives.

Larry attended Southwest High School (Class of 1948) and was an Eagle Scout in Troop 24. He loved attending the Osceola Scout Camp (now the Bartle Scout Reservation) and attained the rank of Fire Builder in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. He would later relish the opportunity to return on parents’ weekend when his Grandson attended summer camp.

As a teen, three summers stood out and Larry fondly remembered and would speak of these. In the summer of 1945, he worked on his Uncle Frank’s farm outside of Abilene, Kansas. In the summers of 1946 and 1947 he worked at the YMCA camp in Estes Park, Colorado. This experience led to Larry’s love of vacationing in Colorado and his family were the beneficiaries of numerous summer trips to the mountains to hike, camp, and sight-see and many more winter trips to ski.

Larry attended Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. It was in these years when he forged close friendships that would forever impact his life including groups we affectionately came to know as The Lake group, the Gourmet group, and the Kappa Sig group. Larry and several of his Kappa Sig brothers began taking an annual sojourn to the Lake of the Ozark’s with their wives and young children in tow, sometime in the mid to late 50’s. None could have imagined at that time this group of families would spend holiday’s picnicking together, countless New Year’s Eve’s celebrating and yes, more than six decades of migrating to the Lake of the Ozarks every spring for the annual ‘Lake Group’ gathering.

In late 1954 Larry met Sandra Daley, the love of his life, on a blind date in Fall’s City, Nebraska. The story is too long, if told correctly, for inclusion in this short life’s history. Suffice it to say in a most remarkable turn of events three college pals (from Baker U) met three women on a blind date in December 1954 and by September of 1955 all three young men had married their date from that fateful night. More impressively, all three couples spent a lifetime together. The most stoic of individuals cannot hear the story told without feeling some emotion and perhaps some hope for humanity. Larry certainly offered much hope for humanity with the way he lived his life.

Larry was known for his jokes (more like narratives with a twist) and friendship. He had a quiet side and was the kind of person you could be with and enjoy his company without much need for conversation. On several occasions he was asked to be with friends who needed the quiet comfort and discretion he had to offer.

His interests included anything and everything to do with WWII fighter planes, photography, a love affair with white VW beetles (he owned a '67 AND '98) and crossword puzzles which he completed daily, in ink!

Larry worked for the Calvin Communications company as a writer, director, and producer of educational and industrial films. Calvin was an advertising, educational, and industrial film production company for nearly half a century and was one of the largest and most successful film producers of its type in the United States. Larry made many good friendships in Calvin and also travelled quite a bit in the production of the industrial films. Contracts with John Deere meant a lot of travel in the midwest and a contract with Caterpillar meant an extended trip to Europe for filming. A trip which he largely recalled as a rushed series of days getting to sites, filming and moving on to the next site with little time to sightsee. He was with the company until 1978 when, in his words, "Calvin signed its own death warrant when the owners decided video tape was just a passing fad and failed to gear up for it." Not to worry, Larry parlayed his experience writing and editing into a second career as an advertising consultant working on several local corporate accounts.

The “groups” were a theme throughout Larry and Sandy’s lives. The Lake group has been mentioned. The Kappa Sig group was known for its enthusiastic theme parties, New Year Eve’s 2 a.m. breakfast buffets and the infamous square dance incidence. Apparently, the professional who called the dance formations said it was either cut out the drink or else. He was shown the door.

The Gourmet group formed in the early 1960’s when four couples (all members of Broadway United Methodist Church) decided to meet once a month for a “gourmet” meal. The host provided an entrée and everyone else brought a dish. The only requirement was it needed to be something new and never cooked before. These meals continued monthly until well into the new millennium, with very few skipped months. And throughout those years we know of only two changes to the mix of couples.

Larry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sandy, his daughter Claudia Boosman (Mitch) of Lee’s Summit and son Matthew Kauffman (Martha) of Kansas City, his grandchildren Ryan Kauffman, Rachel Kauffman, Jo Boosman, Kate Boosman, and countless family friends.

Some of the specific details herein come from the family history Larry wrote in 2010 and concluded with, “I leave you with this: I have a wonderful wife, two terrific children and their spouses and four fabulous grandchildren. It has been a good life.”

Visitation will take place on Saturday November 7, 2020 at 2:00 PM with services following at 3:00 PM at Mt Moriah. In lieu of flowers, Larry requested donations to the charity of your choice.