Wallace Everet Kaufer (Wally) was born January 4, 1931, to Edmund Charles Kaufer and Martha Julia Sackery Kaufer in St. Paul, Minnesota. He had an older brother (Edmund Jr, also known as Bud) and sister (Eileen) who spoiled him as a much younger sibling, and he loved them immensely.
He attended St. Andrew's grade school and graduated from St. Agnes High School in St. Paul. He was co-caption of the football team and wore number 34. Right after graduation, he started a four-year apprenticeship program with the Northern Pacific Railroad, where his father also worked.
He enlisted in the MN Air National Guard in 1950. During the Korean conflict, he was activated into the U.S. Air Force and spent a year in Japan. Throughout his life, he was reluctant to accept thanks for his military service as he felt his time in Japan was too comfortable compared to those who actually served in combat.
Wally married Donna Mae Thompson on May 21, 1953, in St. Paul, Minnesota. That fall, when his apprenticeship was complete, they moved to Medford, Oregon.
Six children were born to the happy couple over the next nine years. Their first child was a boy, then four girls, and then another boy, Jim. Wally spent years building a larger house as his family grew. His free time was spent camping and taking family drives. He particularly enjoyed the McKenzie River area and the Oregon Coast. Two of these "family drives" were to Minnesota to visit his parents. One in 1961 in a VW bug and one in 1969 in a VW bus.
The family relocated to Eugene, Oregon in 1971 when the Ashland railroad yard closed. Wally continued working for the Southern Pacific Railroad until his retirement in January 1993.
Retired life was terrific! It included many camping trips, three different motor homes, a driving trip to Alaska and numerous cruises. He and Donna lived as Arizona snow birds for ten years where they made many new friends. He went for a walk about his retirement community daily with constant stops at each driveway to visit those he encountered. He never turned down a piece of lemon meringue pie.
In 2017, he and Donna moved to a retirement center in Keizer to live closer to more family members. He took delight in traveling this area of the state as the surrounding farm land reminded him of Minnesota.
Unfortunately, in March of 2019, his dementia was severe enough to warrant moving into a memory care facility. He resided at The Arbor at Avamere Court for the last five and half years of his life. Even as his memory declined, he was a favorite among the staff. He passed away on November 25, 2024.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Kaufer of Keizer, Oregon, and his six children: Tom (and Sue) Kaufer of Vancouver, Washington, Mary Carter of Beaverton, Oregon, Connie (and Clayton) Gillette of Medford, Oregon, Amy (and Victor) Eurich of Eugene, Oregon, Lois Williams of Keizer, Oregon, and Jim Kaufer of Junction City, Oregon. Wally was grandfather of eighteen, great-grandfather of twenty-two, and great-great-grandfather of one.
This large family is honoring his memory on December 12, 2024, with a Memorial Mass at St. Edward Catholic Church in Keizer at 10:30 am. A reception will follow immediately at the Parrish Hall for all to share their memories.