Surnames: Kaufman, Frazee, DeMoss, Traczek, Schnell, Schamberger, Olstad, Johnson, Koudmani, Zieglemaier

----Sources: Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wis.) 4 July 2005

Kaufman, Charles Anthony (19 Oct. 1984 - 26 June 2005)

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FAIRCHILD — Charles Anthony Kaufman, (named after his grandfather Charles Kenneth Kaufman), 20, of 125 Forest St., died Sunday, June 26, 2005, after an improvised explosive device detonated while he was returning from a mission in Baghdad, Iraq.

Charles, son of Mark and Celeste (Frazee) Kaufman was born October 19, 1984, in Jackson County. He attended the Fairchild Elementary School, and graduated at the Chippewa Valley Technical College in Neillsville.

Charles worked for the Pierce Christmas Tree Farm, Kaufman Kafe, the Boullion Dairy Farm, Nelson Muffler Plant in Neillsville, and Ashley Furniture shipping department. If anyone needed any help or work done, Charles was there. He joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard with his close cousin, Kelly Kaufman. Specialist Charles Kaufman served in "Charlie" Company, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry — part of the famous "Red Arrow" Brigade. He was ordered to active duty in June 2004, and deployed to Iraq in January 2005. As a child, he skipped training wheels on his bicycle, and moved to a battery-operated three-wheeler he enjoyed very much. Next, at the age of 7, he was riding the lawn mower and mowing lawns. Charles loved to be fast and free in anything he could drive, which included operating tractors, trucks, cars, four-wheelers, snowmobiles, motorcycles and Humvees. Charles was a responsible and dependable driver who drove many missions in Iraq.

Charles was an exceptional young man with a beautiful smile that warmed our hearts. Starting as a boy, he was an avid sportsman who loved fishing, and hunting with his father, Mark, grandfathers, uncles and cousins. Charles liked to go for the "Big Bucks." He loved archery and won several trophies in archery competition at the Fairchild Rod-N-Gun. When Charles was not living in the woods, he would love to play pool or cards with anyone willing to compete with him. Chares also played softball, darts, horseshoes, and enjoyed camping with family and friends. Charles loved his family and always made time to spend with them. Charles loved his family and friends from the youngest to the oldest. Whether it was playing with the children or taking time to spend with his grandparents. Charles was there for us all, and will remain in our hearts always.

Charles is survived by his parents, Mark and Celeste (Frazee) Kaufman of Fairchild; his sister, Samantha Kaufman of Eau Claire, Wis.; grandparents, Geraldine Kaufman of Fairchild, Harold L. and Christina M. Frazee of Fairchild; great-grandmother, Doloris DeMoss of Corunna, Mich.; aunts and uncles, Rozanne (Kaufman) and Frank Traczek of Fairchild, Diane (Kaufman) and Robert Schnell of Rothschild, Kenneth and Cheryl Kaufman of Fairchild, David and Dawn Kaufman of Fairchild, Gary and Tammy Kaufman of Fairchild, Danny Kaufman of Fairchild, Lisa Kaufman of Madison, Mary (Kaufman) and Jeff Schamberger of town of Hallie, Lisa (Frazee) and Ricky Olstad of Northfield, Cecilia (Frazee) and Mickey Johnson of Soldotna, Alaska, Patricia (Frazee) and Rabee Koudmani of San Diego, Calif., Harold P. Frazee of Thorp, Eric and Mary Frazee of Fairchild; great-aunts and uncles; 30 cousins; and more.

He was preceded in death by his namesake and grandfather, Charles Kenneth Kaufman, who passed away on June 20, 2005, and by many more relatives too numerous to mention.

A funeral mass for Charles will be held Thursday, July 7, 2005, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, rural Fairchild, with Father Ziegelmaier officiating, and Father Cassidy assisting. Burial with full military rites will be conducted in the church cemetery.

Friends May call from 2 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.