Martina Tina Kauffman's Obituary
Martina (“Tina”) Klazina Kauffman, most recently of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away on May 10, 2024 from Alzheimer’s. Tina was born on August 5, 1937 to Willem Leenderd Weinberg and Krina Maria Dijkhuizen in The Hague, The Netherlands. Tina was named for her maternal grandmother. After Tina graduated from high school, she charted a course for adventure, working for Interpol in Paris, France where she translated documents and served as an interpreter, speaking Dutch, French, Italian, and English. It was in Paris where Tina met John Phillip Kauffman, who was serving in the US Navy at SHAPE Headquarters (a precursor to NATO). The couple wed on April 10, 1958, and had lifelong memories of courtship and love in Paris.
Once married, John and Tina continued to Naples, Italy where their first son Phil was born, then to Mildenhall, England, where their second son, Paul, was born. Their daughter Mieke was born in Portsmouth, VA. The couple spent several years with the Navy in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Jacksonville, Florida. Upon John’s retirement from the Navy, the couple charted their course to Arkansas, living at first in Fort Smith, and then eventually deciding to buy a hog farm in Booneville, Arkansas where the family all worked together for years.
Tina and John eventually retired to Bella Vista, in Northwest Arkansas, after TV ads from Eric Estrada piqued their interest. They loved living in Bella Vista, surrounded by friends and family. Tina enjoyed walking with her friends in Arkansas and was widely regarded as one of the fastest “Damn Walkers” that met every morning. They attended Bella Vista Lutheran Church and belonged to bowling and golf leagues in town. They enjoyed puzzles, playing cards, dancing, casino trips to Oklahoma, spending time with Paul and Mieke’s dogs, caring for their grandchildren, and visits to the numerous lakes near their home.
After John’s death in 2011, Tina moved to Concordia Senior Living and then Brookfield Senior Living in Bella Vista. While living at Concordia, Tina was employed as the “wine wench” for residents, serving every Friday Happy Hour. While at Brookfield, she was up for any adventure, sitting “side saddle” to staff member Deb Slinkard, who took Tina with her on rides throughout town for errands. In 2023, Tina finally relented to becoming a Texan in her final months and enjoyed the friends and family that visited her at Sunrise Senior Living in Fort Worth. Her humor and sense of adventure were welcomed at Sunrise, where she sparked a sense of adventure in the lives of the residents in her wing, playing volleyball and bingo. She was jokingly referred to as “Laverne” from the Laverne and Shirley duo and had great fun with her “partner in crime,” Sally Ozborn.
In addition to being predeceased by John, Tina was predeceased by her sister, Wilhelmina, who had also met and married a US military spouse and lived in Loveland, Colorado. Tina is survived by 3 children - Phil Kauffman (Theresa) of Fort Worth, Texas, Paul Kauffman (Tamra) of Farmington, Arkansas, and Mieke Kauffman (Mike Songer) of Bella Vista, Arkansas. She is survived by 4 grandchildren: Kelsey Felix (Michael), Daniel Kauffman, Brennon Kauffman, Claire Kauffman and several great grandchildren.
The family is grateful for the loving care Tina received in her final months of life at Sunrise as well as the hospice care provided by Community Healthcare of Texas, with special thanks to Gayle. Tina will be buried with John at the Fayetteville National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Tina can best be remembered with a hearty toast of red wine, her favorite drink. Her favorite quote was anything related to being Dutch, so we raise a toast to her and join in her refrain, “if it ain’t Dutch, it ain’t much!”
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