Arnetta (Detweiler) Kaufman

Arnetta Kaufman was born May 27, 1930 at Milford, Nebraska to Edward and Minnie (Zimmerman) Detweiler and passed away Thursday, September 2, 2021 at the age of 91 at the Pocahontas Community Hospital, Pocahontas, Iowa. She was raised in the Mennonite denomination, was baptized in 1944 and “born again” at the age of 19. (John 3:13 – Jesus answered and said unto him (Nicodemus), “Except a man or woman be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven.) She graduated from Milford High School in 1948 and attended Hesston College in Hesston, Kansas. She then moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa and worked for various companies before marrying Ralph Kaufman of Fonda, Iowa on January 6, 1956. They were blessed with a son, Peter, and two daughters, Teresa and Christina.

In addition to the jobs Arnetta had before she was married, she also worked nights at the Fonda Care Center, worked as a nanny out east and cared for an elderly lady in Des Moines. Even though she held a couple of jobs after she was married, her family considered her a homemaker her entire life, and she was always available for her husband and children. She was an excellent cook and loved hosting family get-togethers and birthdays. She was also known for the delicious pies she made.

Arnetta was a member of the Manson Mennonite Church where she taught Sunday school, served on the Hospitality Committee, served as a camp counselor, attended the women’s sewing group, and participated in several Bible studies throughout the years. She had a desire for friends and family to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and had a heart for the less fortunate.

Arnetta loved to travel, including a family vacation each summer, and was fortunate to travel to several foreign countries besides most U.S. states. She was interested in missions and in 2007, at the age of 77, participated in a mission trip to Nigeria with Campus Crusade for Christ, International. She had a huge garden for years and did a lot of canning and freezing sweet corn. She also enjoyed working in her flower beds, shopping, rubber stamping and creating cards to send to several pen pals and family members for different occasions. She enjoyed playing Rook and in her later years, enjoyed playing Skipbo with her family.

Arnetta leaves a son, Peter (Janel) of Fonda, two daughters, Teresa (Ross) Simpson of Lytton, Christina (Lyle) Kauffman of Manson, eight grandchildren, Zachary Kaufman of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Aaron (April) Kaufman of Fonda; Tara Simpson of Lake City; Katie (Derek) Ketelsen of Westside; Josiah (Faybrianne) Simpson of Hendersonville, North Carolina; Jordan Kauffman of Hopkins, Minnesota; Jacob (Haley) Simpson of Rockwell City; Sara (Brandon) Eivins of Winterset; 8 great-grandchildren, sisters Mary Ann (Bill) Rowe of Beatrice, Nebraska and Janet (Kent) Schmieding of North Augusta, South Carolina, along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Arnetta was preceded in death by her husband Ralph in 2006, her parents, brothers Laurance Detweiler (infancy), Raymond Detweiler, Wayne Detweiler, Dale Detweiler, Larry Detweiler, Glen Detweiler, sisters Marie Detweiler (infancy), Bernice Rhinehart and Ardene Pingel.

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