Stella Marie Kauffman passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at Augusta Health & Rehab in Augusta, Wisconsin where she lived since January 2019. She was born May 12, 1952 in Ladysmith, Wisconsin to Mark and Thelma Kauffman.

She was baptized at the Sheldon Mennonite Church and attended school at Conrath Grade School and Flambeau High School. Although she grew up on a dairy farm, her dream was to become a nurse. After teaching school for one year at Boyd, Wisconsin she traveled to Virginia where she worked at Mountain View nursing home. While she lived and worked there, she took LPN training. She returned home to Wisconsin and was employed at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Ladysmith. Determined to become a registered nurse, she took a job in Minneapolis, Minnesota and put herself through RN training.

In 1983 Stella relocated to Sarasota, Florida where she worked as a critical care nurse in cardiology at Doctor’s Hospital. She loved her job and took good care of her patients. Her keen interest in others was noticed and appreciated and was evident even during her declining years.

Stella was a member of the Palm Grove Mennonite Church where she added her creative touch by helping to plan Sunday evening programs when it was her turn. She had a circle of girlfriends, and they had many good times together.

Left to mourn her passing are her sisters, Mary Lou (Paul) Byers of Zumbrota, MN; Esther (Joe) Weirich of Knob Noster, MO; brother Andrew (Karla) Kauffman of Sault Ste. Marie, MI; sister-in-law Kathy Kauffman of Colby, WI; and foster brother Ken Schwartzstrauber of Sheldon, WI; 30 nieces and nephews, 116 great nieces & nephews and 51 great-greats.

Preceding her in death were her parents; a sister Elaine and her husband Burdette Weirich; brother Paul Kauffman; infant brother, John Eldon; infant sister, Sarah Ellen; and brother-in-law Brent Carter.

Visitation will be Friday, March 27, 2026, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm; the funeral service will be at 10:30 am. on Saturday, March 28, 2026, all at the Shiloh Mennonite Church, W7385 Cty. Rd. I, Conrath, WI. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Sheldon, WI.

A complete obituary will also be published in the Ladysmith News.