Joan Kauffman

Joan Kauffman, a long-time resident of the Manteca-Lathrop area, passed away on Thursday, February 25, in Pasadena during a visit with family.

   Born in Tennessee, she later moved to California and went to work at financial institutions in the San Francisco Bay area. It was while working at one of these businesses when she met her future husband, Melvin Kauffman, who fell in love with her at first sight. They have been married for 47 years when he passed away three years ago in April 2018. They tied the knot on the Fourth of July.

   As a newly married couple, they lived in the Castro Valley where Melvin started his own business, Accurate Heating and Cooling. They moved to the San Joaquin Valley in 1976 where Joan's husband continued his business, this time in the manufacturing end of sheet metal, and started Delta A/C Supply in Lathrop in 1988. The still thriving business is located on West Yosemite Avenue in Lathrop, where they lived for a number of years before moving to Manteca. Through the years, Joan and her husband were actively involved in both Lathrop and Manteca supporting several charitable and community causes including the annual Lathrop Mayor's Art Purchase Award Show and Sale.

   Joan is survived by daughter, Wendy Churukian (Dr. Michael) of Pasadena, son Raleigh Fagan of the Bay Area; three granddaughters, (Tiffany of Hawaii, Heidi of Pasadena, and Courtney of Canada), grandson Marc of Pasadena; and, two great-grandsons.

   Graveyard services for Joan Kauffman will be held Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 1 p.m. at Divide Cemetery, 13800 Memorial Drive, in Groveland, California. Father Jeff Wilson, pastor of Twain Harte's Catholic Church, will preside.

   P.L. Fry & Son is in charge of arrangements.

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