Kauffmann, Ivan J. (1922-2016)
Ivan J. Kauffmann; pastor, administrator, and volunteer: born 5 November 1922 in Minier, Illinois to John and Alma (Litwiller) Kauffmann. He was the first born son in a family of five sons and one daughter. On 23 May 1946, he married Lola M. Good (parents Alvin and Bessie (Kaufman) Good) in Hopedale, Illinois. They had two daughters and four sons. Ivan died 24 December 2016 in Goshen, Indiana. His spouse, Lola, died 15 February 2024 also in Goshen, Indiana.
Ivan Kauffmann was baptized 27 February 1937 in Hopedale, Illinois, by Simon Litwiller and Ben Springer at Hopedale Mennonite Church (Illinois). He graduated in 1949 from Goshen College with a B.A. as a Bible major. Ivan was ordained at Hopedale Mennonite Church in January of 1949, the same year he graduated.
The professional life of Ivan Kauffmann began as a pastor within the Mennonite Church. He first served as the pastor of Hopedale Mennonite Church of Hopedale, Illinois (1949-1969, 1970-1972). Ivan returned to the pastorate as the Short Term/Interim pastor of the Lombard Mennonite Church (Lombard, Illinois) 1992-1993. Ivan accepted an interim Minister of Finances and Facilities assignment at College Mennonite Church (Goshen, Indiana) a few years later lasting 1995-1998.
Ivan also served in conference and denominational leadership. While at Hopedale, Ivan served from 1951-1963 as an officer of the Illinois Mennonite Mission Board. He also saw involvement between 1963 and 1969 with the Illinois Mennonite Conference as Conference Moderator and as a member of the Conference Ministerial Committee. On a leave of absence from Hopedale, Ivan and his family moved to Elkhart, Indiana in 1969 for one year to serve under the Mennonite Board of Missions. During this year Ivan discovered his gift for administrative work. After moving to Lombard, Illinois (1972-1984), Ivan worked as the Mennonite Church General Board’s Associate General Secretary, 1972-1977, and then as Executive Secretary, 1977-1985. Ivan and his family moved to Chicago (1984-1990) where among other roles, he served half-time as the Illinois Mennonite Conference Coordinator, 1986-1989.
Ivan’s volunteer service began in earnest initially while in Lombard. He was among the founders of Mennonite Housing Aid, Inc. in 1975 and worked there part-time, 1984-1986. In 1988, Ivan helped organize the Illinois Mennonite Federal Credit Union, that later merged into the Mennonite Financial Credit Union. Ivan also served as a board member for the Chicago Mennonite Learning Center, from the center’s beginnings in rented space until the center purchased its 2005 location. Ivan and Lola Kauffmann moved in 1990 to Brementowne Manor of Tinley Park, Illinois (1990-1994), established by Mennonite Housing Aid, Inc. in 1982, where they acted as staff at times when no staff was present. Ivan and Lola’s final move was to Goshen, Indiana (1994-2016). From the end of his employment at College Mennonite Church employment in 1998, Ivan and Lola volunteered with numerous Mennonite agencies and ministries in the Goshen, Indiana area.
During his time as Mennonite General Board Associate General Secretary in 1973, Ivan Kauffmann participated in the Illinois Mennonite Conference’s Study Committee on the Ordination of Women as an Illinois Conference Appointee. As part of the committee, Ivan recommended Emma Richards to be the first woman ordained for pastoral service in a Mennonite congregation.
Ivan also directly participated in the highest levels of Mennonite Church debate on gay and lesbian church members in his late career and beyond. In 1994, he wrote “How Should the Church Respond to Christians who are Homosexual?” while he was between interim ministry roles at Lombard Mennonite Church and College Mennonite Church. In this document he advocated for openness and understanding in conversation with gay and lesbian Christians, and for love and patience towards those with differing views. As he retained personal ties to the Oak Park Mennonite Church (later called Chicago Community Mennonite Church), he continued his advocacy in Spring 1995 as the church faced conference discipline for accepting gay members. In 2025, materials in Ivan Kauffmann’s personal papers on homosexuality and Christian faith spanned 1991-2003, indicating his continuing involvement in later years.
As a longtime pastor, church administrator, and volunteer, Ivan Kauffmann always gave meaningful service to a worthy cause.
Bibliography
Hershberger, Diana. “Lazarus Project 2016 I-K.” MennObits. https://mcusa-archives.org/MennObits/Lazarus/2016/LP%202016%20I-K.html. (Accessed 23 June 2025)
Hopedale Mennonite Church Membership Book. Record Book. From Mennonite Church USA Archives, III-13-10 Hopedale Mennonite Church, 1854-, Hopedale, Tazewell County, Illinois, Box 1 Church Records 1861-1940, Folder “Membership Book, 1903-1970.”
Kauffmann, Ivan. “Opportunities to Serve Christ in the Mennonite Church - Part One,” Illinois Mennonite Heritage Quarterly 32 no. 2 (2005): 17, 25-33.
Kauffmann, Ivan. “Opportunities to Serve Christ in the Mennonite Church - Part Two,” Illinois Mennonite Heritage Quarterly 32 no. 3 (2005): 33, 40-47.
Schrag, Paul, ed. “Kauffmann, Ivan J.” Mennonite World Review, 2 January 2017. https://mcusa-archives.org/MennObits/Mennonite%20World%20Review/MWR%202017/01-jan%202017.html. (Accessed 23 June 2025)
Sutter, Vernal L., enumerator. “Little Mackinaw Township, Tazewell County, Illinois.” 1940 Census. Online Image. From My Heritage: 1940 United States Federal Census. https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10053-494611836/ivan-kauffman-in-1940-united-states-federal-census (Accessed 26 June 2025)
Archival Records
Ivan Kauffmann Personal Papers are located at Mennonite Church USA Archives (Elkhart, Indiana) HM1/672.
| Author(s) | Bowen Dick-Burkey |
|---|---|
| Date Published | July 2025 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Dick-Burkey, Bowen. "Kauffmann, Ivan J. (1922-2016)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. July 2025. Web. 19 Jan 2026. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Kauffmann,_Ivan_J._(1922-2016)&oldid=180973.
APA style
Dick-Burkey, Bowen. (July 2025). Kauffmann, Ivan J. (1922-2016). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 January 2026, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Kauffmann,_Ivan_J._(1922-2016)&oldid=180973.
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