Peggy Kauffman, 78, of Kalona, passed away August 5, 2026, at Pleasantview Home, surrounded by her loving family. A funeral service was held Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at Cornerstone Community Church in Kalona. The service will be available via YouTube at the Cornerstone Community Church page. Burial followed at Sharon Hill Cemetery in Kalona.. Memorial funds in Peggy’s memory may be given to Pleasantview Home. The Beatty Peterseim Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Peggy was born October 1, 1947, to Alvin and Laurine Acord of Wellman. She grew up in a large family surrounded by two older sisters and two younger brothers as well as three older half-siblings. A graduate of Mid-Prairie High School in Wellman, she loved to play basketball and was known to be a tough guard on the varsity team and a threat to her opponents running hurdles on the track team.
Following her graduation, she married the love of her life, Larry Kauffman on June 26, 1965. Three years later, they would welcome their first child, Shelia, followed by a son, Clint. After spending a decade raising her kids, she decided to follow a passion and attended Sharon Duran’s Academy, learning the skills necessary to become a hairstylist and subsequently a well-respected business owner in her community. For 30 years she owned her own shop on main street where she made friends daily, serving her customers on everything from ordinary days to the most extraordinary of milestone occasions.
As much as she loved her chosen profession, it was eclipsed by her love of golf. A natural athlete, it was a passion she learned from her son in her 40’s. Until health issues interfered, you would find her on her beloved Kalona Golf course playing with anyone who would accompany her. After her retirement, she’d rally her girlfriends to find new and fun places to explore. In addition to golf and friends, Peggy had a healthy creative streak and was often immersed in designing beautiful handmade cards and gifts to share with her clients and friends, further demonstrating her kind and generous nature.
Married to a diehard outdoorsman, Peggy learned to have a great appreciation of our natural world. As a young mother, she corralled her family many times to accompany Larry on bass fishing tournaments across the state and beyond, where tent camping became a favorite family pastime. In her later years, one of her greatest pleasures was joining her children and her grandchildren on annual trips to Northern Minnesota over the 4th of July week. She enjoyed these times immensely and became somewhat famous for her enthusiastic fondness of Independence Day parades.
In recent years, Peggy enjoyed the excitement of watching Caitlyn Clark and the Indiana Fever, the company of her caregiver Emily, ice cream, a good cup of hot cocoa, and most importantly, the companionship of her loving husband Larry… inseparable to the very end.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 61 years: Larry; their two children: Shelia Spicher and Clint (Eleanor) Kauffman; her brother: Alvin Acord Jr.; her grandchildren: Alexandra, Zach, Hunter and Bailey; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.
Peggy was preceded in death by her father: Alvin Acord Sr; her mother: Laurine; her brother: Mitchell Acord; sisters: Colleen Morgan and Collette Gabel; as well as half siblings: Harry West, Joseph Leroy West, Helen Bates; and her son-in-law: Andy Spicher.
