Obituary

Karen Kaufman Gaeddert (Mrs. Jim Gaeddert) went to her heavenly home on Friday (Jan. 28, 2011) after a long battle with cancer.

Karen was the daughter of Paul D. and Linda (Goering) Kaufman, both of whom preceded her in death. Karen was raised on a dairy farm west of Moundridge. She was baptized on June 6, 1954, by the Rev. Peter J. Dyck and joined the Eden Mennonite church in Moundridge. She attended her first eight years of school in a one-room schoolhouse near her home (Peaceful Grade School). While active in 4-H, she cooked, sewed and showed cattle on a national level. After graduating from Moundridge High School, she married Jim and moved to Newton where she attended Bethel College for one year prior to starting a family.

On June 2, 1957, she was married to her high school sweetheart, Jim Gaeddert, and they had four children, Doug, Greg, Brad and Janelle, all of whom now mourn her passing and always will remember her loving smile and the unconditional love she had for them. A member of Rainbow Mennonite Church in Kansas City, Karen was very committed to her faith throughout her life and instilled those same principles in her family. While living in Newton, Jim and Karen attended the Bethel College Mennonite Church where they have maintained a wider fellowship affiliation. As an active member, she worked in the nursery, taught Bible school and volunteered in the Community Playschool for many years. She also worked in the General Conference Mennonite Church offices in Newton while helping support her young family and Jim’s efforts to complete his education at Bethel College. The Cancer Crusade was a special volunteer project in which Karen was very active. She also served as a Cub Scout den mother, volunteered in her children’s schools, helped with the soup kitchen, instructed in a conversational English class while in London and served as a court appointed special advocate for abused children (CASA) while living in Chicago.
The family lived in North Newton, Overbrook, Hoisington, Newton and Walton. As Jim’s career evolved with Hesston / Fiat, they moved to West Chicago, Ill., Lancaster, Pa., London, England, and St. Charles, Ill., prior to retiring to Bella Vista, Ark. As Karen was diagnosed with cancer for the third time in her life, Jim and Karen moved to Leawood to be closer to her doctors and family. For most of her years, Karen felt privileged to be a full-time homemaker, wife and mother. She loved being a mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her family now includes 13 grandchildren (one married) and one great-grandson. She enjoyed their boundless energy, individual personalities and ever-growing accomplishments. She loved all forms of sports and games, traveling in the R.V. with Jim, gardening and participating in virtually anything outdoors and never gave up on her K.C. Royals.

Survivors include her husband, Jim; children, Doug and Lisa Gaeddert of Elkhart, Ind., Greg and Terri Gaeddert of Leawood, Brad Gaeddert of Leawood and Janelle and Dan Benninghoff of Overland Park; grandchildren, Cheralyn, Michael and Michelle Gaeddert, Joel and wife, Crystal, Aaron and David Gaeddert, Luke, Keely and Mitchell Gaeddert, Jessica, Jack, Tyler and Thomas Benninghoff; and one great-grandson, Collin Gaeddert. She also is survived by her brother, Gerald Kaufman of Inman, and sister-in-law, Leda Kaufman of Moundridge. She was preceded in death by brothers Gilbert, Georgie Kent (stillborn) and Merrill Gene (stillborn). She will be missed by all who survive her and welcomed by those who have gone before her. Her family was her rock, and she was the rock for her family. May she rest in peace.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 pm. Tuesday at Petersen’s Funeral Home in Newton. The family will be present from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton, followed by a light lunch. The family requests memorial gifts be sent to Petersen’s Funeral Home, 215 N. Main St., Newton, KS 67114. Contributions should be designated to the American Cancer Society or to the James D. and Karen K. Gaeddert Scholarship Fund at Bethel College.