Arvin Herluf Kafton, age 78, of Mapleton, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center of Sioux City, Iowa.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Mapleton, Iowa. Father William A. McCarthy will officiate. Committal services will follow in the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery of Mapleton, Iowa.
A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m., on Friday, January 13, 2023, at the Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa.
The Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com.
Arvin Herluf Kafton was born on December 21, 1944, to Herluf and Wilma (Tadlock) Kafton on a farm west of Mapleton, Iowa. He attended school in Mapleton and graduated from Maple Valley High School in 1964. After graduation, Arvin joined the Army National Guard and served until 1970.
Arvin married his high school sweetheart, Carole Rauterkus, on October 16, 1965, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mapleton, Iowa, where he was a member.
Arvin farmed his entire life in the Mapleton area. He was a man who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life and farming was all he ever wanted to do. Besides running his John Deere equipment on the farm, you could find Arvin hunting, riding dune buggies and motorcycles at Timber Ridge, spending time with his family and friends, and camping. He was one of the many people that helped build the Rodney Pits into the Peter’s Park that it is today.
Arvin is survived by his beloved wife Carole (Rauterkus) Kafton of Mapleton, IA; three children: Terry (Stacy Brandon) Kafton of Mapleton, IA, Brenda (Dan) Reimer of Danbury, IA and Brett (Jodi) Kafton of Mapleton, IA; grandchildren Tammy (Riley) Kafton, Justin (Kelsey) Kafton, Toni (Darin) Specketer, Cady Helton, Riley (Dan TenEyck) Kafton, Sam Kafton, Brody (Karly) Kafton, and Bryce (Autumn Schreiber) Kafton; great-grandchildren Grace and Hope Specketer and Asher Kafton; brother Wayne (Zola) Kafton of Mapleton, IA; brothers-in-law Robert Rauterkus of Mapleton, IA and Michael Schincke of Omaha, NE; sister Judy (Jim) Moore of Ft. Collins, CO; and sister-in-law Joan (Don) Heidzig of Aberdeen, SD.
He was preceded in death by his parents Herluf and Wilma (Tadlock) Kafton; son Troy Kafton; daughter Cindy Kafton; grandson Stephen Kafton; sister Arlene (Lyle) Woodward; sisters-in-law Diane Schincke and Donna Davis; and parents-in-law Gilbert and Helen Rauterkus.
Previous Events
Visitation
13
Jan
210 South 5th Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial
14
Jan
201 N 8th Street
Mapleton, IA 51034
Cemetery Details
Location
Mapleton, IA 51034
