Harold Dean Kauffman, 79, of Ashland, passed away Sunday afternoon August 18, 2019 at his residence.
He was born in Wooster, Ohio on October 13, 1939 to the late Walter C. and Stella Lucille (Canakamp) Kauffman. He was a lifetime resident of Ashland and Wayne Counties. He was a 1957 graduate of Jeromesville High School and had served in the United States Navy Reserves from 1958 to 1960 and was then called into active duty. He served on the USS Macon CA132, one of the first ships to go on the St. Lawrence Sea Way and dock in Cleveland in 1959.
Dean had worked at the Eagle Rubber Company for 8 years, then the Hess & Clark Co. before joining the Ashland City Fire Department in 1974 as a fulltime firefighter. He was one of the first firemen to go through the paramedic training program at the fire Department and was a two-time firefighter of the year award winner. He retired from the department in 1999. Following his retirement from the fire department Dean worked at the Ashland Monument Company for many years.
Dean was a member of the former Orange Grange 2727 in Nankin and had served as Deputy Master of the State Grange. He was a member of the United Rubber Workers Union, the AFLCIO 1386 Firefighters Union, He was a former Boy Scout Leader and little league baseball coach at Nankin, a member of the Ashland Volunteer Fire Co., a lifetime member of the United Navy Cruisers Association, The USS Macon Association #132, and he enjoyed gardening and woodworking.
On November 22, 1962 Dean was married to Ellen Moritz who survives him. He is also survived by a sister, Donna Jean (Howard “Frank”) Garrett of Wooster, a brother, Gerald Lee (Janet) Kauffman of Gahanna, Ohio and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Walter DuWayne Kauffman and a nephew, Craig Garrett.
Friends may visit with the family on Friday, August 23, 2019 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home. There will be a fire-fighters memorial service held at 2:00 p.m. followed by the funeral service officiated by the Reverend Johnnie F. Swan. Burial will be in the Trinity United Methodist Cemetery.
The family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery Endowment Fund, Hospice of North Central Ohio, or to the Ashland City Fire Department Equipment or Training Fund.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family by visiting denbowfh.com