Delora Kaufman has lived in Hillsboro all her life
Staff writer
Born, raised, and still living in Hillsboro, Delora Kaufman says, "I have never not lived in Hillsboro and I know that sounds awful."
She admits she wished that she had gotten away.
Delora is the daughter of the Aaron Reimer and the late Margie Reimer of Hillsboro.
In 1974, she graduated from Hillsboro High School.
She dated her husband-to-be Kim Kaufman for four years before they were married.
"Kids think that is something to wait that long," Delora said.
Kim and Delora were not only high school sweethearts, but they were chosen as HHS homecoming king and queen.
The couple were married on June 12, 1976.
After graduation, Delora went to Tabor College for two years.
"I was majoring in elementary education, but I knew then I didn't want to become a teacher," she said. "But I did like pre-schoolers."
She began working at Happy Face Day-care when it first began. Linda Ewert and the late Kaye Bartel were directors and the day-care was held in the fellowship hall at First Mennonite Church.
The day-care later moved to the former Esther Vogt home, where Lucky Ducks is now located.
Delora worked for three years until the birth of her first child in 1979. She attended workshops so she could teach nursery school.
She became a stay-at-home mom and did baby-sitting in her home through the years.
She gradually began painting signs, an occupation done by her dad for years. She painted signs for businesses including the Co-op sign at the intersection of Indigo and U.S.-50.
"Carol Wiebe kept me busy painting signs as HDC director," Delora said.
Delora painted signs for downtown business and painted trailers at Hillsboro Industries for ranchers who wanted to customize their trailers by putting their logos on them.
"I did go to Century II and paint a few banners, but felt that was out of my league," she said.
She worked in the Tabor mailroom from 1995-1999.
"It was a fun job," Delora said, "and I needed a break from painting."
For six years she had served on the Hillsboro Public Library board. When the children's librarian position became available, Delora applied for the 20-25 hour per week job.
"It sounded like it was something I would like to do," she said.
As children's librarian, Delora also took over the library's summer reading program.
She attended the North-Central Kansas Library workshops for the summer reading programs in order to follow the curriculum the organization distributes to libraries.
For the children's story-time, Delora developed her own plan of those youngsters in the 40-minute session throughout the school year.
One of her favorite sessions the group did last year was entitled "Laugh It Up" featuring silly books to read and "doing fun things."
"I want the library to be fun for the little kids," Delora said, "so they will want to come to the library later.
"Cathy (Fish), my boss, feels the same way," she added.
Because of her early interest in pre-schoolers, Delora taught pre-schoolers since she was in junior high all the way until high school and then in adulthood, all except during the period of her college years.
She has managed to maintain some hobbies through the years. She took painting classes for a couple of years from Shirley Gardner of Hutchinson. She also enjoys doing crafts — "any kind" she said and scrapbooking.
She does craftwork with a group of ladies every month.
"I would love to learn to quilt — someday," Delora said.
She also enjoys gardening or working outdoors.
"But I don't have much time for that now, since I baby-sit for my grandson," she said. "And I also spend time with my dad who lives at Park Village."
Delora has been a member of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church since 1967. She has served as a Wednesday night pre-school teacher and has served on the decorating, the Christian education, and the Vacation Bible School committees through the years.
Delora's philosophy of life are nuggets of truth she has learned through the years. She summed it up in these words.
"We've been through some tough times. I know that our faith in God is what got us through," she said.
Her favorite Bible verse is "Be still and know that I am God," which is a very familiar verse to many.
"I've had to realize God has His plan for my life and it takes place in His time, not mine," she said.
"What God has in store for me is often much more than I would ever have expected."
"It also means I relinquish control to Him, which is not an easy thing for me to do."
"I have come to grips with the thought of only being able to control the attitudes and actions of myself. I can't change what others do around me and I can't feel guilty for others' choices either."
"These are lessons I have to keep learning over and over, but the peace that God gives is worth it," she concluded.
Delora and Kim, who is the service manager at Hillsboro Ford, have two children.
Jesse lives in Newton and is a computer programmer. He has a son, Anthony.
Denny and her husband Joshua Johnson live in Auburn and are expecting their first child in September.
