by the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Henry “Hank” Kumler Kauffman, age 81, of Baltimore, Ohio, died Friday (Jan. 13) at the Ohio Masonic Home, in Springfield.

Kauffman was born on June 6, 1935, to the late Ralph and Helen Kumler Kauffman in Baltimore. He was a realtor and very active as a more than 50-year member of the Baltimore Masonic Lodge, the Shrine, the Scottish Rite and York Rite.

He was a second generation grocer and owner of Kauffman’s IGA Foodliner.

Kauffman was a past Baltimore Fire Chief and greatly enjoyed breeding Standardbred horses for than four decades years. He was a long time member of the United States Trotting Association and Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association that was a well loved man by both his family and community, whom will be deeply missed.

Undoubtedly, Kauffman’s pride and joy was the 2007 Ohio Horse of the Year KF St Patrick, who was also the previous season’s Ohio champion 2-year-old pacing colt.

Bred in conjunction with Michael Medors, the son of Nobleland Sam-K F Pro’s Baby just missed by a head to be a perfect 10-for-10 in his freshman campaign.

As a sophomore, the horse dominated his Ohio opposition, but experienced some bad luck in the North America Cup, from which he had to be withdrawn, the Cleveland Classic and the Little Brown Jug Preview, where he was hampered by leaving from the second tier.

As a 4-year-old KF St Patrick netted another $104,040. He ended his career with a record of 69-28-6-4 and amassed $405,424 in purse money.

According to the records from the United States Trotting Association, Kauffman bred 70 horses and owned 117 horses during his course of involvement with the industry. Those numbers, however, are assuredly higher as records were not compiled when he first entered the business.

Kauffman was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother Dessie Kauffman, step-father Dr. Hanby C. Ashton and step-sister Barbara Richards.

He is survived by his children, Henry K. Kauffman Jr., Howard Ralph Kauffman, Kristi E. (Harlin Goins) Kauffman, and Kurt D. Kauffman; nine grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; sisters, Opel K. Wacker; Carol Ione (Col. Ronald) Zahm; nephew, Phil (Nody) Eramo; and niece, Donna (Ron) Hochradel.

A funeral service will take place on Wednesday (Jan. 18) at the Johnson-Smith Funeral Home, 207 S. Main St. Baltimore, Ohio, at 11 a.m.

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