Robert Thomas Kaufmann

Robert Thomas Kaufmann was born August 1, 1940 to Alvin Willis and Laura Ellen Hundley Kaufmann in Albert Lea, MN. He started playing the violin at age 9. Robert played throughout his school years with the High School Orchestra, becoming Concertmaster during his Junior and Senior year of High School. He was a 1958 graduate of Albert Lea High School. Robert enlisted in the Navy in January 1959 at age 18, and was sent to the United States Navy School of Music in Washington D.C. After graduating from the Navy School of Music, as a Violinist Major and a Percussionist Minor he was transferred to the U.S. Navy Unit Band in Norfolk, VA and later reassigned to the U. S. Navy Band in Washington D.C. in 1963. While with the Navy Band in Washington, Robert played in several Inauguration Parades, at The White House, and for the John F. Kennedy Funeral. With the U.S. Navy Band "Country Current" Robert played at Camp David for President Jimmy Carter. He also made 5 appearances at the Grand Ol Opry, several appearances on the Ralph Emery TV show in Nashville, TN., and the 1976 production of the Academy of Country Music Awards Show in Hollywood. While Robert was in the Navy Band he was the first Concertmaster of the Georgetown Symphony in Washington D.C., played with the Northern Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the McClean Symphony in McClean, VA. Robert was a strolling violinist along with an accordionist at several major hotels in Washington D.C. area. He also took private violin lessons from Henri Sokolov, the first concertmaster of the National Symphony. Since Robert retired from the Navy in 1980 he has played with these country groups: The Uptown Grass Band, Pam Hobbs and Crystal Clear Country, The Virginia Renegades, The Wichita Falls Band; while with the Virginia Renegades they opened for Johnny Paycheck and Gene Watson. After moving back to Minnesota, Robert played with Backstage Band, The Snowy River Band, Cabin Fever Band, and The Blue Denim Band. While with these bands they opened for: Martina McBride, The Kinleys, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Confederate Railroad, Tracy Lawrence, Joe Diffy and Suzy Bogguss. Robert is survived by his sister, Shirley Clayton Hatleli; brother-in-law, Loring Ginny Olson; nieces and nephews, Sharon Paul Jacobson, Steve Olson, Renee Strand, James Julie Hatleli, Holly Greg Wayne, Patti Bob Yaw, and Mike Nicole Hatleli; several grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and special friend Charlotte Kerrigan. Robert was preceded in death by his father, Alvin Kaufmann; mother, Ellen Kaufmann; sister, Marilyn Olson. Memorials are preferred to the American Diabetes Association.