Harry Louis Kaufman

Harry Louis Kaufman was born in Lansing, Iowa on September 28, 1921 to George and Elizabeth Kaufman. Harry had two younger sisters, Betty and Virginia. He grew up hunting and fishing in northeast Iowa along the Mississippi River. He dredged clams and sold them to the local button factory for use in making mother of pearl buttons.

Harry served in World War II in the South Pacific as a navigator with Marine Air Group 25, which was a critical lifeline to ground troops in Guadalcanal, New Caledonia, and Bougainville. He mustered out of the Marines in San Diego, California and married his sweetheart, Viola Belle Smith in 1945. He enrolled at the University of Iowa and received a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering in 1949. He was the first in his family to graduate from college.

Harry had a successful career in industry, working as a chemical engineer and plant manager for Goodyear Tire and Rubber in Lincoln, Nebraska; Union Carbide in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Babcock and Wilcox and NUMEC in Pennsylvania. At NUMEC, he was one of the pioneers in developing ways to recycle nuclear waste.

Harry retired in 1984, and he and Vi moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In 2000, Harry and Vi moved to Hastings, Michigan to be near his daughter, Nancy J. Marks and her husband, Louis Marks, M.D.

Harry and Vi lived a quiet life in Hastings, surrounded by kids, grandkids and great grandkids until June 26, 2020, when Harry died peacefully in his sleep.

He is survived by his wife of seventy-five years, Viola Belle Kaufman, his son, Dr. Gary G. Kaufman, his daughter, Nancy J. Marks, six grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.

There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date. Services provided by Girrbach Funeral Home. To leave online condolences visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net .