Keith James Kaufmann had every reason to live—his wife Ann (“his angel”), his four beautiful and competent daughters, his clone sons-in-law, his lively grandchildren, his many relatives, high school friends, neighbors, former colleagues, members of the religious community at St. Peter the Fisherman, . . the list is long. But as Stuart Alsop said, “A dying man has to die as a sleepy man needs to sleep.” On June 28, 2026, Keith had to take his final rest.

He was born in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, on April 14, 1962, the second child of Karl and Mary Ann (Mahlik) Kaufmann. He attended St. Mark's Elementary School and Washington High School, graduating with the class of 1980. He then earned a major degree in Management Information Systems and a minor in Accounting at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. On August 11, 1984, he married his high school sweetheart Ann Fronk at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Two Rivers. Initially, Keith worked for JCPenney in Milwaukee, and then for HC Prange Co., Shopko and Omni Resources in Green Bay, but in 1992 he and his brother-in-law Pat Deprey started their own successful business—Skyline Technologies, Inc. After retirement, he was a valet at St. Vincent’s Hospital, where all his wonderful and shining qualities were put to good use.

Keith is survived by his wife of 42 years, Ann; his daughters and sons-in-law Bethany and Nick Baudhuin of West De Pere, Marie Kaufmann and Daniel Moone of Colorado Springs, Emily Kaufmann of Green Bay, and Shannon and Matt (Chewy) Caelwaerts of Hobart; his grandchildren Noah, Grant and Eden Baudhuin; his brothers and their spouses Tim and Brenda Kaufmann and Bruce and Jill Kaufmann; one brother-in-law, Rick Schuh; his brothers and sisters-in-law Kip and Liz Behrendt, Mary Penglase, Barb and Doug Reamer, Julie and Pat Deprey; his godchildren: Abby Schuh, Katie Gallo, Charlie Reamer and Nathan Mahlik; nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Carolyn Schuh, his parents-in-law Betty and Bernard Fronk, his brothers-in-law Jeremiah Fronk and John Penglase.

Keith was a model of how to live. He worked hard and played hard. When he wasn't building a business, he was building a sauna; when he wasn't raising a family or encouraging his grandchildren to be mischievous, he was planting a garden; when he wasn't hunting, he was making chicken booyah or corned beef with cabbage. When he wasn't boating or jet skiing, he was dreaming of owning a hang glider. Even in the ICU where he was surrounded by family and friends, his sense of humor kept the mood light. What a guy!

Keith was a God-loving man who went to mass, honored his parents, was kind, faithful, honest, and generous. Even though he was as handsome as any man in a GQ magazine, he was humble. Keith had a gift for accepting life and that included tragedy. The early deaths of his father Karl and his sister Carolyn, not to mention his own diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, could have led to a fall from grace, but instead Keith rose to grace. When his mother Mary Ann died in late December 2023, he maintained that God wanted HER for Christmas.

Keith will never really die as long as stories of him are told. See, there he is! He's biking to the next life, waving. He knows we will all follow him, each of us in our turn.

Visitation for Keith will be held on Thursday evening, July 2, 2026 at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church, 3201 Mishicot Rd., Two Rivers from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. and continue Friday morning, July 3rd from 9:00 until 10:45 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 a.m. Friday morning, with burial to take place Monday at Holy Cross Cemetery, Two Rivers.

The funeral service will be live streamed on the St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church website or St. Peter the Fisherman Facebook page.

Online condolence messages may be shared at DejaMartin.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Seena Magowitz Pancreatic Cancer Foundation or Kathy's House, Inc.

Deja & Martin Funeral Chapels of Two Rivers is assisting the Kaufmann family with funeral arrangements.

To each member of his care team at St. Vincent Hospital, Prevea Health, Green Bay Oncology, Aurora BayCare, and Froedtert & MCW, our thanks are endless.