Donald D. Kaffine Obit

DONALD D. KAFFINE, 90, of Bemidji, formerly of Deerwood, passed away on Feb. 11, 2023 after a long battle with dementia. Donald was born on Jan. 2, 1933 in Montreal, WI to Carl Kaffine and Rose (Mezzano) Kaffine. He graduated from Hurley High School in 1950. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard for three years. Donald then attended Michigan Technical college in Houghton, MI. He graduated in 1957 with a degree in electrical engineering. He married Geraldine Zinzarella in 1960. He worked in Minneapolis at Control Data and Siemens Company until his retirement in 1997. His wife, Geraldine, passed away in 1992. He married Judith Masse of Bemidji in July of 1995. Donald and Judith made their home on Turtle Lake in Deerwood  until they moved back to Bemidji in June of 2017 They shared nine grandchildren; Meg, Chris, Nick, Griffin, Avery, Clarissa, Jacinda, Emma, and Tyler. Don enjoyed visits from family and friends. He enjoyed fishing (especially with the grandchildren.) He also enjoyed canoeing, walking on trails and wooded roads along the lakes, cross country skiing, bowling, the neighborhood cribbage group and his weekly political discussion group at the North Country Cafe in Crosby. He was passionate about nature, bird watching, saving trees, and his wildflower garden. Don was intelligent, kind, quiet, a good listener and an astute reader. He was a member of the Headwaters U.U. Fellowship of Bemidji and a Secular Humanist. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Geraldine, his parents, his brother James, and his sister Nancy. Don is survived by his children and their spouses: Kenneth Kaffine of Minneapolis, David (Joan) Kaffine of North Billercia MA and Rosemary (Greg) Rustad of Edina. Five grandchildren: Meg, Chris, and Nick Kaffine. Griffin and Avery Rustad. His wife, Judith from Bemidji. Judith's children and spouses: Linda (Cate) Masse of Minnetonka, Craig (Cindy) Masse of  Edmond, OK and Jay (Angela) Masse of Bemidji. Four grandchildren: Clarissa, Jacinda, Emma and Tyler Masse. Two brothers and sister-in-law: Carl Kaffine of Eveleth and Lawrence (Mary) Kaffine of Rothschild, WI and many nieces and nephews. There will be a graveside service this summer in Iron Belt, WI. for friends and family. A tree will be planted at Lake Bemidji State Park in Donald's memory. Condolences may be left at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home of Bemidji.