Denver Kaufman

Kaufman, Denver After a long and joyous journey led with love, integrity, compassion, and conviction; enriched by fine food and spirits, symphony and theatre, travel and Twins games; accompanied by the serene souls of family and friends who adore him, at 12:20 am on St. Patrick's Day, 17 March, 2014, Denver Kaufman embarked on his next great adventure. A son of the Prairie, a Mennonite who was "Born Blessed" in Freeman, South Dakota to A.T. (Albert Thomas) and Lydia (Schrag) Kaufman on 11 November, 1929. There to greet him were Sister Florine and Brother Jerome. According to legend, Denver wasn't named for six odd weeks as A.T. pondered a unique and strong enough appellation for this baby whose father knew he would travel far. After the birth of Kid Brother, Stewart, in 1932, their family was complete. Denver was preceded in death by his parents, sister, and brothers. The siblings passed an idyllic childhood and when not studying or working at the family ranch or feed mill the brothers engaged in typical hijinks. They connected hand operated generators to the seats of outhouses, cranking a literally shocked greeting to the unsuspecting occupant. Denver unbolted the steering column on his car and when his nice, meek friend with the ironic nickname "Killer" enthusiastically implored to drive, Denver responded, "Killer, you really want to drive this car, don't you?" as he dropped the steering wheel in Killer's lap, the car rolled over the bern and gently crashed into a tree. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree at the University of South Dakota in 1951, Denver was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. Though a pacifist by religion and personal ethic, he chose to serve the country that had granted his family religious freedom. He tested into the Counterintelligence Corps, whose candidates, in addition to basic training, learned to speak Japanese in six weeks. Though top of his language class, due to a clerical error, he found himself, rifle in hand, on a troop carrier bound for Korea. By the time the wheels of the U.S. military complex had slowed enough for him to abandon ship, Denver had completed a second basic training for reasons that remain as mysterious as the true origin of his name. He was stationed in Tokyo, his residence next-door to Emperor Hirohito in the Imperial Palace, which proximity greatly facilitated Denver's duties as a spy. After his discharge in 1954, Denver matriculated to the University of South Dakota Law School where he was Editor-in-Chief of the South Dakota Law Review, the recipient of the Alan Bogue Memorial Scholarship, and the South Dakota Bar Association Award. He was admitted to the South Dakota Bar in 1958 and to the Minnesota Bar in 1959. While at a Saturday lunch with then employer Joe Robbie, a young woman who Denver recognized from the Barrister's Ball in South Dakota approached their table and he was reintroduced to Sharol Amundson. After she left the restaurant, having confessed to Joe that he had just met his future bride, he followed her, stopped her on the sidewalk, and asked for her phone number—his heart awakening to the light of his soul, the love of his life. Sharol and Denver married on 7 January, 1961. They enjoyed 53-plus miraculous years as husband and wife, and best, best friends. Together, throughout the days of their marriage, they attended seasonally the Guthrie Theatre from its inaugural year, the Orchestra, they saw The Minnesota Twins live in the World Series in '65, '87, and '91; they enjoyed fine dining in the Twin Cities and abroad but no food better than the fare they created at home. So great was their love both of each other's company and mastering new menus, that simply making a family supper became "Date Night" before the term became popular. Outside of work, Denver cherished his family and friends. He played snooker and billiards and the ponies at Canterbury Park. Breathtakingly bright, he remained humble and his homespun accessibility and affection for people only added luster to his brilliance. Though not a physical giant, while dining, Denver never encountered a restaurant bill so large he could not pick it up. He often took greater joy in the success of others than they took themselves and he sought opportunities to help fulfill dreams. Denver, then 79 years old, was the point man overseeing a major addition and renovation at the facility in Bloomington overlooking the Minnesota River Bluffs. On 8 April, 2009 while on vacation in Sarasota, Florida, Denver fell while getting to the bathroom in the middle of the night. He required emergency brain surgery after which his surgeon stated it was unlikely Mr. Kaufman would live through the day and if he did survive, he would most likely be in a vegetative state. Mr. Kaufman decided otherwise. After a second brain surgery by Dr. Andrew Fine and two months of work with Dr. Karen Leggett to combat Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a three-week-vacation-turned-to- five-month-ordeal ended as Sharol and Denver returned to Minnesota in August 2009 via medical plane. After a brief stay at Bethel Care Center in St. Paul, Denver was the first resident moved into his room in Martin Luther Manor's new addition. Denver and his family thank all the caregivers who have worked with him over the last five years—from the Gulf of Mexico in Florida to the River Bluffs in Minnesota—especially the Temporary Care Unit team at Martin Luther Care Center. We are eternally grateful for your unwavering love for and commitment to Denver. You have made us family. Memorials in Denver's name may be made to Cathedral of the Pines Camp and the Mount Olivet Building Fund. Visitation: Friday, 21 March, 2014, 5 to 8 pm, Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel, W. 50th St. and Highway 100. Interment: Saturday, 22 March, 2014, 9:00 am, Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, 36th St. and Hennepin Ave. Service: Saturday, 22 March, 2014, 11:30 am, Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, 50th St. and Knox Ave. Please join us in celebrating the life of one of the world’s truly great and kind men. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

Tributes

Denver Kaufman

March 17, 2014

Tributes

Denver Kaufman

March 17, 2014

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