Judy Kaufmann, wife of retired Covenant pastor Austin Kaufmann, died December 30, 2023, in Eagan, Minnesota. She was 76.
Judith Ann Kaufmann was born on April 21, 1947, in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Robert and Helen Broman. She was confirmed at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Worcester. She attended Barrington College in Barrington, Rhode Island, where she met Austin Kaufmann.
On August 3, 1968, Judy married Austin at Bethlehem Covenant. Together they served in children and youth ministries at Bethlehem Covenant Church; Riverside Covenant Church in Riverside, Rhode Island; and Bethesda Covenant Church in Rockford, Illinois. Shortly after they settled in Rockford, Judy was offered an internship at Thompson Design Forum. After that three-year internship, she was offered a full-time position as an interior designer.
When Austin was called to serve First Covenant Church in Omaha, Judy continued to focus on children’s ministry and lovingly reached out to Lutheran Family Services to inquire about adoption. After two years of diligent efforts and prayer, Judy and Austin welcomed their two daughters into their family.
In 1980, Austin received a new call to serve Bethesda Covenant Church in Rockford, and Judy was invited to return to her interior design position. She worked a total of ten years there.
The family moved to the Twin Cities in 1983 when Austin was called to a Christian education and youth consultant position with the Northwest Conference. Judy began working at Ethan Allen, where she continued working for the next three decades, receiving several awards for her faithful and creative work.
Even though Judy grew comfortable in the Midwest, she was an East Coast person at heart, which meant annual three-week road trip vacations to New England, especially Maine and Rhode Island, and saving a few days for the South Jersey Shore.
Judy is survived by her husband, Austin; children, Tabby Nelson (Chris) and Becki Kaufmann; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held on January 19, at First Covenant Church in St Paul.
Peace be to her memory.
