Daughter of John Gunden &
Mary Swartzendruber
Oldest of fourteen children;
8 sisters & 5 brothers
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1881 Emma (Bender)***see below
1882 Christian J.***see below
1884 Lizzie (Steckley)***see below
1886 Lydia S. (Mayer)***see below
1888 Anna***see below
1889 John J.***see below
1892 Agnes B. (Byler)***see below
1893 Fannie (Yoder)***see below
1895 Joseph W.***see below
1897 Mary E. (Albrecht)***see below
1899 William S.***see below
1901 Laura B.***see below
19?? Theodore

Married Joseph M. Kauffman
25 Dec 1908 Shelby Co, IL
Mother of five children;
1 daughter & 4 sons
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1909 Orie A.***see below
1911 Vernon Livingstone d. 2000
1913 William Joseph d. 1986
1915 Marion John***see below
1915 Mary Edna d. 1992

Stepmother to;
1905 Melvin Joseph

Obituary - Gospel Herald Obituaries - April, 1944
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Katie Gunden Kauffman, daughter of John and Mary Gunden, was born in Johnson Co., Ia., Dec. 15, 1879; died at her home in Pigeon, Mich., March 31, 1944; aged 64 y. 3 m. 16 d.

She was united in marriage to Joseph M. Kauffman Dec. 25, 1908. To this union were born 4 sons and one daughter: Orie, Vernon, William, Marion John, and Mary Edna, the latter two being twins. Her husband was taken from her Sept. 10, 1916, while living at Shelbyville, Ill., after only eight years of married life, leaving her alone with her family. Yet during all this time she definitely felt the nearness of her Lord. She often quoted Ps. 63:7, "Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice." Her greatest concern was to bring up her children in the fear of the Lord, and she expressed her joy at seeing them all in the fold of Christ. Her desire was that they might be faithful to Christ and loyal to the church. She was willing to do all she could for the welfare of her family and those about her. She accepted Christ as her personal Saviour and united with the Amish Mennonite Church in her youth, remaining loyal and true to her Saviour until her Lord called her to Himself, which was her desire.

She enjoyed good health until about two years ago, when she began to fail. The last four months found her gradually failing with heart and dropsical condition. She was confined to her bed for the last three weeks. All that human hands could do seemed to be of no avail.

She leaves to mourn her departure her 5 children and a stepson, Melvin, of Atkinson, Ill., 8 grandchildren, 7 stepgrandchildren, her aged mother (Mrs. John Gunden), 6 sisters and 4 brothers: Lizzie (Mrs. Joe Steckley), Lydia (Mrs. Sol Mayer), Agnes (Mrs. Jesse Byler), Fannie (Mrs. Tom Yoder), and Laura, all of Pigeon, Mich.; Mary (Mrs. Mose Albrecht), John and William, Bay Port; Chris, Goshen, Ind.; Joseph, Archbold, Ohio; and a host of other relatives and friends. Her husband, father, 2 sisters (Emma-Mrs. Amelius Bender and Anna), and one brother (Theodore) preceded her in death.

She chose as her funeral text, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his"; also the songs, "I Long to See My Saviour First of All." "When Jesus Comes to Reward His Servants," and the German hymn, "Jesus Is Mine."

Funeral services were held at the home in charge of Bro. Emanuel Swartzendruber, and at the Pigeon River Church by Bro. Earl Maust and Bro. Edwin Albrecht of Turner, Mich.

Interment in the church cemetery.

We bowed our heads in submission
To our Master, Redeemer, and Friend.
He hath given, hath taken, and blest us
Who for us our mother did send.
We praise Him for all the fond memories
Of her teaching which brought faith in Him.
We'll meet her beyond the dark river.
When the path of life here shall grow dim.