Paul G. Kaefring

KAEFRING, BRACK, ROHRET, JANS, DOLEZAL, HUTCHINSON, LANGEL, LEIST, GALLAGHER, SPAUR, MCKEE, HARTLEY, PERRY

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 5/29/2009 at 13:33:36

Paul G. Kaefring, 85, of rural Oxford died Wednesday afternoon at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City after a sudden illness. Funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Cosgrove on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 5 from 4-8 pm at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, 605 Kirkwood Avenue, Iowa City where a Rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. and a Vigil Service will begin at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Peter’s Catholic Church.

Paul Glen Kaefring was born December 10, 1922, in Johnson County, Iowa, son of Fern Charles and Gertrude Julia (Brack) Kaefring. He graduated from Cosgrove High School in 1940 and farmed west of Cosgrove for the next sixty years. On February 10, 1944, Paul married Vera Caroline Rohret of Cosgrove at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, and was a lifelong member of the parish there.

In 1955, Paul went to work at the University of Iowa as a Custodian at Currier Residence Hall and later worked as a larryman at the University Power Plant. In 1976 he became Supervisor of Power Plant Services, a position he held until his retirement in 1988. During his retirement he spent time with his family and worked around the farm. He served on the Board of the Cosgrove Institute, a community activity resource and played euchre in a Wednesday morning card club at the Institute. He played cards there in the morning on the day he died. He loved tinkering with old tractors and his backhoe. Paul was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and a good friend and neighbor to many.

He is survived by his wife, Vera, and six children: Julia (Ron) Jans, Iowa City; Kristine Dolezal, Iowa City; Paul (Becky) Kaefring, Iowa City; Jeffrey (Lisa) Kaefring, Solon; David Kaefring, Iowa City; and Lisa (Scott) Hutchinson, Owatonna, Minnesota. In addition, he is survived by fourteen grandchildren: Carmen (Richard) Langel, North Liberty; Melissa Jans, Iowa City, Rachel (Timothy) Leist, Iowa City; Sarah (Tad) Gallagher, Keokuk, Iowa; Brannon (Kara) Kaefring, Klamath Falls, Oregon; Aimee and Megan Kaefring, Iowa City; Whitney, Adam, and Hillary Kaefring, Solon; Amanda Kaefring, Coralville; Jeremy Kaefring, Cedar Rapids; Brittany and Logan Hutchinson, Owatonna, Minnesota; two step-grandchildren Shelly (Chad) Spaur of Oskaloosa, and Heather McKee of Cedar Rapids; eleven great grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Catherine (David) Hartley of Dayton, Ohio and Rita Clare (Murvin) Perry of Johnson City, Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Ivan, Cletus, and Henry Kaefring.