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Victor Frederick Kaufmann, 100, passed away peacefully in his home on High Prairie, Washington, on Dec. 31, 2025, with wife, Marilyn, and children, Barbara and Ken, at his side. Leaving nothing unfulfilled, but sad it had to end, Victor loved life to his final breath.
Victor was born July 26, 1925, in Eugene, Oregon, son of Edna Marie (Snyder) Kaufmann and Roscoe Fred (R. Fred) Kaufmann, brother to Kathlyne (b. 1926) and Gene Hope (b. 1928). He moved more than 10 times as a child, including stays in Eugene, Oakridge, Oregon, Los Angeles, Rocky Ford, Colorado, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Vic retained many vivid, happy, memories from his early childhood, as well as an abiding belief that he would die young.
Vic attended South Side High School in Fort Wayne, where he served in student government, wrote for the school paper, and won first prize in the Indiana State Latin competition. He enlisted in the Army upon graduation, and after completing freshman year at Yale University, reported for duty. Vic was assigned to the 30th Infantry Division, 119th Infantry Regiment, deployed to France in September 1944, and wounded in action near Belgium in November. After a 3-month rehabilitation in Birmingham, England, Vic returned to active duty, where he was awarded a Silver Star Medal for tending to a stricken comrade while under heavy artillery fire. Vic remained in Germany after the war as part of the American Occupying Forces, then returned to Yale to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in English, class of 1949.
Vic moved west to Butte, Montana, in 1958, where he adjusted insurance claims for Traveler’s Insurance. There, he met Marilyn Jeanne Slauson, whom he wed, in 1960, and then moved to Portland, Oregon. Vic and Marilyn together raised Barbara (b. 1962) and Kenneth (b. 1967) — each the Valedictorian of their class at Parkrose High School — while enjoying long teaching careers in Gresham (Vic at Centennial High School, 1968-90; Marilyn at Powell Valley Elementary, 1969-2000).
In 2001, age 76, Victor began a tree-planting odyssey on his High Prairie property that would last for more than 10 years. He enjoyed minor celebrity in 2011, after “10,000 Trees” (vimeo.com/37324142), a short documentary created and released by his granddaughter, Sarah, won first prize at a local film festival. Victor eventually built and lived in a house there, surrounded by wildlife and the forest he created, and was known locally for his kindness and good nature. He often expressed his gratitude for his good neighbors, helpers, and medical caregivers of Klickitat County who made his final years so pleasant.
In July 2025, Victor and Marilyn celebrated Marilyn’s 90th birthday, Victor’s 100th birthday, and their 65th wedding anniversary.
Victor is survived by wife, Marilyn Kaufmann; daughter Barbara (and husband Gil) Berkovich, San Diego; son Kenneth Kaufmann, Portland; Barbara’s children, Sarah (Los Angeles) and Aaron (Beijing, China); Ken’s son, Owen Kaufmann (Colorado Springs); and two great-grandsons, Oren and Asher, of Sarah and Don Waintraub.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center, 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, Oregon. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com.
Columbia Gorge News, Jan. 7, 2026
To plant a tree in memory of Victor Kaufmann as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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