On Wednesday, June 3, 2020, our beloved Debra Gertrude Kaufmann passed from our midst at the residence she shared with her one true love, Jim Adzima, in Greenville, Pennsylvania. Debra was born a few minutes after her identical twin sister on Oct. 29, 1960, in Roundup, Montana. She was 59 years old.
Raised on the family ranch in Fergus County, Debra learned as a child the ranch-life ethic to be unafraid of hard work, an ethic she embraced with gusto throughout her life. Debra enjoyed the outdoors life that comes with a ranch and, in addition to the year-round chores and animal husbandry duties, was an enthusiastic sledder, ice skater, and snowball hurler in winter, and an avid gardener, hayer, and water sprinkler bather in summer. Debra received her education in Grass Range, Montana, and graduated from high school in 1979. She attended a year at Montana State University in Bozeman, and a second year at Eastern Montana College in Billings, Montana.
Debra had an astute business mind, which became apparent soon after moving to Billings, when she, with her twin, Suzanne, co-founded a business, which had notable clients such as Rocky Mountain Bell. After building a robust reputation and clientele, the business partners sold their first company only to reinvest in a larger, more impactful start-up. The dynamic duo repeated their entrepreneurial growth cycle twice more in Billings, before selling the last Montana company and moving their talent to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1987.
Debra landed on her feet in Albuquerque, and entered the financial servicing sector, once more as a partner with her sister. Debra soon bought out her partner, and after building a valuable and loyal client base, sold the company to a large financial company. Debra continued to flourish in the sector until her death. She threw herself into the work, often having only Christmas day off over the holidays. Such commitment for workplace excellence astounded her co-workers and set a high bar for production and company values.
Along the way, Debra endeavored into software development, real estate, and land development. Debra travelled widely on company business, staying in the finest hotels and appreciating the valet service. She found time to be an avid hiker and skier in Albuquerque and Durango, Colorado, and to raise and love three miniature schnauzers.
In 2015, Debra’s career took her to Phoenix, Arizona, where she worked as a strategic account manager for TSYS Acquiring Solutions, in Tempe. Debra assisted in growing revenue, enhancing partnerships, and overseeing growth opportunities for existing and new partnerships. Debra excelled in understanding partners’ business models and offering them product solutions. More important than her professional success in Phoenix, God brought Debra to Jim, who, in their short five years together, gave Debra a lifetime of love and enjoyment.
With her beloved, Debra’s horizon expanded to riding Harleys, going RV-ing, snowbirding, country line dancing and swing, entertaining numerous friends, and building a hemp / CBD farm. Debra confided to her family that meeting Jim was the best thing that ever happened to her, but her avowal was unnecessary because her loved ones knew the joy that being so loved and desired by her beloved gave her: it was evident in her smile, in her voice, in her self-presentation, and in her youthful glint in her eyes.
Though Debra was a successful career business woman, she did not let her demanding job interfere with her being an active and loving aunt. She enjoyed especially making birthdays and Christmases special to her nephews and nieces in Montana, in New Mexico, and in Virginia. Debra was no less afraid of showing her love as she was to working hard. To each, she gave her best effort, and such devotion touched deeply all of her family, her co-workers, and her clients. She was admired by many.
Debra was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Charles and Gertrude Kaufmann, by her maternal grandparents, Theodore and Ethel Schultz, by her father, John Kaufmann, by her sister-in-law, Rosalyn Kaufmann, and by her brother-in-law, Donald Templeton.
Debra is survived by her mother, MaryLee Kaufmann, by her aunt Patricia Stolle, by her siblings and their spouses, Jon Kaufmann, Kerry and Douglas Gardner, Jeffrey and Annie Kaufmann, and Suzanne Templeton, and by her nieces and nephews and their spouses, Jake Kaufmann, John Ross and Carmen Kaufmann, Ren and Tiffany Gardner, KayCee and Chase Moore, Myles Gardner, JT Kaufmann, Kalina Kaufmann, Adrienne and Michael O’Loughlin, and Donny Templeton.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in Debra’s name to Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, at www.dbsalliance.org or at www.charitynavigator.org.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at the Central Montana Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Lewistown, Montana. Following the graveside service, a reception will follow at the First Christian Church, 103 12th Ave. S., Lewistown, MT 59457. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
1:00 p.m.
Wednesday June 29, 2022
Central Montana Memorial Gardens Cemetery
4 Miles North of Town
Lewistown, Montana 59457
Reception
Following the Graveside Service
Wednesday June 29, 2022
First Christian Church
103 12th Ave. S.
Lewistown, Montana 59457
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
1:00 p.m.
Wednesday June 29, 2022
Central Montana Memorial Gardens Cemetery
4 Miles North of Town
Lewistown, Montana 59457
Reception
Following the Graveside Service
Wednesday June 29, 2022
First Christian Church
103 12th Ave. S.
Lewistown, Montana 59457
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Kasey Morrow says
They say some people come in your life and leave imprints that will be felt for a lifetime… you don’t when or who those people will be when they enter, but time reveals them.
Deb is certainly one of those people for me and between the grief & sadness I feel in her unexpected passing, I am also so incredibly grateful for the time we shared.
Deb was a mentor, friend, travel buddy and my partner-in-crime while at TSYS.
We got each other through some difficult times as well as celebrated some of our best.
I learned a lot from her entrepreneurial spirit which was constantly strategizing & dreaming up new business ideas. She was dedicated to bringing value to those around her and also made sure to make time for *fun*. Some of my favorite memories are with her on business trips. We often had back to back meetings during the day, but the evening would be reserved for fun with clients exploring the city.
I found myself laughing with tears in my eyes last night recalling a freezing night out in NYC we were walking arm in arm back to our hotel. Just as we were approaching the entrance, we dramatically tripped, our legs went flying and we both ended up laying flat on our backs (still locked arm in arm) in the street. We laughed so hard that we couldn’t get up for a bit and Deb’s fancy white fur coat had some new character after.
This is how I remember Deb. Smiling, laughing and enjoying life.
To the family, thank you for sharing such a beautiful tribute, that captures her amazing spirit so well. One of the most incredible obituaries I’ve ever read, for one of the best humans I was lucky enough to call my friend and mentor.
Debra Kirk you will forever inspire me. ❤️
I will always deeply cherish the chapter God placed you in my life and miss you more than you can imagine.
Thank you for being such a bright light in the world.
❤️ Kasey Morrow
Mary Anderson says
I met Deb in her position at TSYS, we were mutual customers to each other as the companies we worked for used product and services provided by our respective companies. A relationship that started with business became a friendship. My day would always brighten when I would see a call coming in from Deb as I knew in addition to catching up on business items we would spend time laughing and talking about our lives.
I retired from my position in early 2020 and one of the last calls I had to say goodbye to customers and in this case a friend was with Deb. She told me of her plans for the hemp/ CBD farm and I shared with her my plans in retirement. We reminisced at the business situations we had navigated through during our long partnership and shared again many laughs.
I was so sorry to hear of Deb’s passing and she truly was a luminous person that the world misses.
Scott Gardner says
Believe it was in 2004 that I joined ECHO Human Resources and flew to ABQ to meet our great team there. Deb was one of the first to greet me and that smile she had could seriously light up a room. We quickly developed a great rapport. When she visited CA or when I’d be in ABQ we would always make a point to talk.
Believe it was soon after that that she arranged for me to present an HR workshop in Chicago for her organization (name escapes me). She was so confident that I’d perform well while I wasn’t so sure. Attendees seemed happy afterwards and Deb made a point to make sure I knew it.
We continued to work together through the Intuit IMS integration and closely enough until my departure from Intuit in 2010. Turns out we both would work for TSYS in separate businesses in different states. Unfortunately, we never connected again.
So miss knowing that I can’t someday see, hug, and talk to her again. Know HR folk aren’t suppose to hug but I would.
She was very special and cherish my moments with her.
Scott Gardner Sr.
Kara and Bill Lambert says
Our thoughts and prayers have been with you all since learning of Debra’s passing. May God comfort you all.
Sue Anne and JR Iman says
Hugs and prayers for all of you. Deb was wonderful fun! And what a beautiful story of her life!
John and Rhonda Stanley says
We are so sorry to hear of Debs passing, she truly was a good friend, we had some great times “back in the day”. She was a great friend, regrettably we didn’t keep up very long after high school. Unfortunately, I have a Dr. appointment the day of her service and will be unable to attend. Her family has been and will be in our thoughts and prayers. Deb will be missed by all who knew her. “Fred” was always, cheerful, had an infectious smile that brightened the day, and never had a negative thing to say about anything or anyone.