Lovina Kauffman was born October 22, 1930, in Kokomo, Indiana, the daughter of Adam A. and Anna (Schlabach) Miller. They moved to Iowa when Lovina was 10. She attended Snake Hollow rural school.
On May 15, 1955, Lovina was united in marriage to Arthur G. Kauffman in Kalona. Lovina and Arthur served several years working with Northern Light Gospel Missions at Red Lake, Ontario, Canada before moving to Kalona. She has lived in Kalona since. Lovina and her family taught Summer Bible School in Minnesota, Kentucky, Mississippi and Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Kalona where she was a member.
Lovina started a domestic cleaning business in the Iowa City area working 32 years.
She enjoyed making candles as a hobby and eventually had a candle shop in her home which she called Country House Candles. She enjoyed going to the church sewing and especially piecing quilts. She continued her love of piecing and quilting at home where she made quilts for her children and each of her grandchildren. Lovina enjoyed baking and hosting gatherings in her home.
Lovina passed away Friday, November 6, 2026, at the University of Iowa Hospital at the age of 96 years.
Lovina is survived by three children: Charles (Dawn) Kauffman of Phoenix, Arizona, Nelson (Rebecca) Kauffman of Yankton, South Dakota, and Merlin Kauffman of Kalona; six grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband in 1975, three brothers: Ervin, Mahlon and David Miller; and sister: Sara Yoder.
A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Kalona. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery in rural Kalona. Visitation will be Friday, November 13, 2026, from 3-7 p.m., at Yoder-Powell Funeral Home in Kalona. A memorial fund has been established for Pathway Christian School, Kalona.
Messages and tributes may be sent to the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com. Yoder-Powell Funeral Home is caring for Lovina and her family.
