Connie Kafton

Dec. 10, 1942 - Jan. 1, 2015

Mapleton, Iowa - Connie L. Kafton, 72, of Mapleton, Iowa passed away Thursday, January 1, 2015, at her home in Mapleton surrounded by her family. The funeral service will be Tuesday, January 6, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton. Deacon Ray Rosburg will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery at Mapleton. Visitation will be Monday, January 5 after 5:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The family is receiving condolences on line at www.armstrongfuneral.com.

Connie Lou (Russell) Kafton was born December 10, 1942, at Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Lester Russell and Betty (Conklin) King. She graduated from South Sioux City High School with the class of 1960.

Connie was united in marriage to Larry Francis Kafton of Mapleton, Iowa on June 11, 1960, in Mapleton. She was a loving mother of nine children, as well as a cherished grandma and great grandma. 

In her early days, Connie and Larry lived north of Mapleton where they farmed. They enjoyed lots of great times watching their children in sports and school activities.  They moved in to Mapleton in 1983.  Larry passed away June 24, 2000.

Along with caring for her family and their home, Connie worked in the Battle Creek group home and cooked on the riverboat in Sioux City. She enjoyed playing cards and dice. She also loved spending time with friends especially the many trips she took with her close friend, Sue Burton. She was all about a little  gambling at the casinos but only the penny slots, playing all the lines but only the minimum bet, never a bet over fifty cents! She was clever in how she used her player cards and considered herself to be a "smart gambler." Regardless, she had fun on a budget. Above all, Connie cherished time with her extended family and loved just listening to them having fun.  She was so happy that the family was able to get together just this past December 27 for the always joyful Kafton Christmas! She literally lived for those times with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Those family members left to embrace their cherished memories of Connie are her mother-in-law, Zelma Kafton of Mapleton, Iowa; her nine children, LuAnn Pothos and her husband, John of Henderson, Nebraska, Kerri Butler and her special friend, Joe, of  Danbury, Iowa, Jeffrey Kafton and his wife, Renee of Danbury, Iowa, Irene Bruno and her husband, Lou,  of Danbury, Iowa, Christopher Kafton and his wife, Roxy, of Guthrie Center, Iowa, Dawn Hancock and her husband, Barry, of Danbury, Iowa, Eric Kafton and his wife, Amanda, of Rodney, Iowa, Gregory Kafton and his wife, Cheree, of  Anita, Iowa, and Heather Prell and her husband, Kevin, also of  Danbury, Iowa; 34 grandkids and 34 great grandkids; two sisters, Rita (McManigal) Dunlap and her husband, Roy, of  Erwin, South Dakota and Jody Russell of South Sioux City, Nebraska and; and her dear friend, Sue Burton of  Battle Creek, IA; along with many other relatives; and countless friends.
Along with her beloved husband, Connie was preceded in death by her parents; and her father-in-law, Nels Kafton.

Those family members left to embrace their cherished memories of Connie are her mother-in-law, Zelma Kafton of Mapleton, Iowa; her nine children, LuAnn Pothos and her husband, John of Henderson, Nebraska, Kerri Butler and her special friend, Joe, of  Danbury, Iowa, Jeffrey Kafton and his wife, Renee of Danbury, Iowa, Irene Bruno and her husband, Lou,  of Danbury, Iowa, Christopher Kafton and his wife, Roxy, of Guthrie Center, Iowa, Dawn Hancock and her husband, Barry, of Danbury, Iowa, Eric Kafton and his wife, Amanda, of Rodney, Iowa, Gregory Kafton and his wife, Cheree, of  Anita, Iowa, and Heather Prell and her husband, Kevin, also of  Danbury, Iowa; 34 grandkids and 34 great grandkids; two sisters, Rita (McManigal) Dunlap and her husband, Roy, of  Erwin, South Dakota and Jody Russell of South Sioux City, Nebraska and; and her dear friend, Sue Burton of  Battle Creek, IA; along with many other relatives; and countless friends.
Along with her beloved husband, Connie was preceded in death by her parents; and her father-in-law, Nels Kafton.