Cleora Mae Cauffman

Cleora Mae Cauffman 92, passed away Sunday morning peacefully in Kosciusko Community Hospital after a brief Illness. Cleora was born the second of five children to Clarence Burr Ellenwood and Maggie (Miller) Ellenwood on June 2, 1924 in Wellsville, Kansas. As a young girl of 13 her mother died and the family returned to Indiana to be nearer family. She attended and graduated from Claypool High School with the class of 1942. It was here that she met her future husband Dale E. Cauffman. Cleora and Dale faithfully attended Alumni banquets throughout the following seven decades. On November 26, 1942 at Claypool Evangelical United Brethren Church Dale and Cleora were married. They shared an enduring loving marriage for over 63 years before Dales’ passing on February 19, 2006. Cleora is survived by 4 children. Rebecca (John) Zimmerman of San Antonio, Texas. Rita Cauffman of Warsaw. Randall (Linda) Cauffman of Mountain Home, Idaho and Rhonda (Jim) Rigney of Mishawaka, Indiana.There are nine grandchildren who meant the world to Cleora. Marcus(Lisa) Zimmerman of San Antonio, Martha Jane (Rich)Ekstrom of Elkhart, Michael (Melissa) Zimmerman of New Paris, Nathaniel(Katlin) Cauffman, Nicholas Cauffman, and Andrew(Amanda) Cauffman all of Boise, Idaho. Zachary and Dane Rigney of Carmel, Indiana and Tyler Rigney of Akron, Ohio.There are thirteen great-grandchildren and much to Cleora’s delight a great-great granddaughter was born this past October. Cleora is also survived by sisters Mary Patterson of Warsaw and Ida Helvey-Cripe of North Manchester, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Burrlene Harris, and brother Earl Ellenwood. Cleora was the Wayne Township Assessor for 24 years, retiring in 1992. Cleora and Dale were inducted into the Republican Hall of Fame in 1987, she was past Woman of the year for the GOP, a long-standing member of the Happy Homemakers Club, was a member of Kosciusko Home Extension for over 70 years and could be found displaying her flowers, vegetables and crocheted works at the fair every year. The spectacular garden you saw driving south of town on 15 belonged to them. Cleora and Dale took their children on many adventures across the United States from one coast to the other in the family RV. They visited many family members on their travels. In time the grandchildren got to be part of the adventures and loved camping with them. Cleora was a member of the Winona Grace Brethren church. Visitation with the family will be On Wednesday April 26th from 4-8 PM in McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw. Services will be at 11AM Thursday April 27th at Winona Grace Brethren Church with Pastor Tom Miller officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw Memorial contributions may be made to: Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church 1200 Kings Highway Winona Lake, IN 46590