Connie Alma Kauffman

The world lost a treasured soul when Connie A. Kauffman was called to be with the Lord on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the age of 88. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she could be both feisty and opinionated as well as deeply loyal, warm, and tender-hearted. Despite her own physical struggles, she forged ahead through the years and lived as independently as she could right up to the end.

Connie was preceded in death by her husband, William Kauffman, on July 13, 2024. They were married for 34 years. Connie was born on January 10, 1938, to Clarence and Blanche Amsbury in Tipton, County, Indiana. There she had one younger brother, Kenneth Amsbury, who preceded her in death on December 2, 2022. She grew up on her family’s farm, tending the livestock and garden as well as helping her mother with the household chores.

Connie graduated from Sharpsville High School in 1956, and afterwards, she rarely missed a class reunion and kept in close contact with as many of her classmates as she could. In February of 1957, she married James Shields, and together they had two children: Regina [Shields] Zerby (married to Brent Zerby) and Scott Shields (married to Anne Fream). Regina and Scott are both graduates of Tipton High School. James and Connie later divorced 1988, and James died on November 2, 2002.

Connie was the proud grandmother of two grandsons: Jeremy (who is married to Lizzy Zerby in Mishawaka of Indiana), as well as Michael (who is married to Rachael Zerby in Evansville Indiana). She also had the pleasure of having two great granddaughters, Eleanor Zerby of South Bend, Indiana and Krissy Harringer of Mishawaka, Indiana.

Connie’s professional life consisted of helping her former husband, James, run their own flower shop in Tipton called Flowers By Jim, as well as spending nearly three decades working as a bank teller for both Farmer’s Loan & Trust, Co. in Tipton, Indiana and later Wells Fargo in Arizona. Anyone who knew Connie knows that she loved music and singing. She sang in the choir at West Street Christian Church in Tipton until she moved to Arizona in 1983. After joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she continued to enjoy singing in several of their choirs and was a faithful member of her ward.

A true Hoosier through-and-through, she loved Indiana sports and was a lifelong follower of Indiana Pacers Basketball, Indianapolis Colts Football, as well as Notre Dame, Indiana University, and Purdue University sports teams. She loved Indiana’s state bird, the cardinal, and her favorite color was lavender—especially lavender roses.

Connie will be deeply missed. She will be forever loved, and we look forward to the day we get to be with her again on the other side of heaven’s veil. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.