David Earl Caufman, 68, of Le Sueur died Thursday, October 22, 2009, at his residence. The highest reward for man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it.

Dave was born August 30, 1941 to Earl and Hazel Caufman, in Minneapolis, MN. He graduated from Richfield High School in 1959. He attended the University of Minnesota for one year, before transferring to the University of Hawaii, where he graduated in 1965. He returned to Minnesota to pursue his Master’s Degree in Psychology at Mankato State University. He married Ellen Ann Brown August 20, 1967. He spent his entire professional career at St. Peter Regional Treatment Center, as a social worker and retired in the fall of 1996.

A member of First Lutheran Church Dave completed the Stephen Ministry Program and was a past member of the church council.

Dave enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time at the cabin he bought in 1965, writing poetry, oil painting, tinkering with his model trains and HAM radios and participating in numerous civic organizations. Dave was a Life member of Union Lodge 45 AF & AM, serving as secretary for twenty plus years; St. Peter Chapter No. 22, having held the office of High Priest in 1981 while located in Le Sueur; Ivanhoe Commandry No. 31; Scottish Rite, Valley of Minneapolis; Zuhrah Shrine and the Ho Ho Shrine club of Le Sueur; past patron of Cereal Chapter 2 and Jordan Chapter 108 Order of the Eastern Star; a past president of the Le Sueur Jaycees. He served 35 years on the Le Sueur County Developmental Services Board of Directors and on the Conference Arrangements committee for the Minnesota Social Services Association of which he was a longtime member. He will be remembered for his smile, sense of humor, being a good listener and his caring ways. He loved his family and friends and this was reflected in how he lived his daily life. He has touched many in his lifetime.

He is survived by his wife Ellen; children Mele & David of Minneapolis; sister Rita Craig (of St. Louis Park); brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bruce and Paula Brown (of Savage); nephews Matthew (Christine) Brown of Coal Valley, IL, Nathan Brown (of Minneapolis), Eric McLeod and niece Tammy McLeod.

He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Hazel.

Memorials may be directed to the Masonic Cancer Center Fund, Inc; the Rite Care Speech and Language Clinic in Elk River; First Lutheran Church of LeSueur or your charity of choice.

Visitation Sunday October 25 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Kolden Funeral Home in Le Sueur with Eastern Star and Masonic services to begin at 7:30 p.m. Funeral service Monday, October 26, at 11:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, Le Sueur, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment to be held at a later date in Mound Cemetery, Le Sueur.