Pepper attended Columbia High School and proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1969 – 1971 and served in Vietnam from 1970 – 1971.

Christian burial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at the Clyde W. Kraft funeral Home, 519 Walnut St, Columbia, PA 17512.

The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time.

He will be laid to rest at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in a private service.

Lester “Pepper” Kauffman, 73, of Mountville passed away on September 18, 2023. He was born in Columbia to the late Harry and Kathryn Schoelkoph Kauffman and was a lifelong resident of this area.

Pepper attended Columbia High School and proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1969 – 1971. He served in Vietnam from 1970 – 1971 and during this time was exposed to Agent Orange which was a direct cause of his death. Pepper joined the Army National Guard and served from 1984 – 1986. Following his service, he worked as a foreman with Amtrak until his retirement. Pepper was a lifetime member of the Columbia VFW post 2435 and the Marietta American Legion post 466. He was an avid fisherman of bass and trout. Pepper was a faithful member of Columbia Presbyterian Church.

Pepper leaves behind his wife Kim Morrow of Mountville; three children, Greg Kauffman of Arlington, WA, Brandi Tisdale of Honey Brook, Kriste McManus of York; four grandchildren; a sister, Margaret

“Peggi” Donnan of Columbia; Niece, Donna Gearhart of Mountville; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Hank and Debbie Morrow of Elizabethtown; several nieces and nephews and many friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law Donnie Donnan.

A Christian burial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at the Clyde W. Kraft funeral Home, 519 Walnut St, Columbia, PA 17512. The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time. He will be laid to rest at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in a private service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard, P.O. Box 8601, Lancaster, PA 17604.

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