Alan Kaufman passed away in the early morning hours of August 22, 2025, at home in Chesterfield, Missouri. After a lifetime of making sure his loved ones got everything they wanted, he got his own final wish - to die in bed, sleeping next to Sylvia, his loving and incredibly patient wife of 59 years.

Alan was born on May 24, 1944, to M. Jack and Lois (Lower) Kaufman in Columbia City, Indiana. As a child, he was a paperboy with the largest route in town - 102 houses. Whenever his bicycle wore out, his dad would buy him a new one. By the time he was a teenager, he was racing around town on four wheels, in a red-and-white '56 Chevy Bel Air 2-door hardtop, speeding through the back alleyways he knew inside and out. His car eventually took him out to the country, to pick up Sylvia and drive her to school. They started dating when he was 17, going to the movies and to Azar's Big Boy for fish sandwiches. Alan graduated in 1962 and attended Ball State University but really, he didn't like being that far from Sylvia.

They married on July 2, 1966, with Alan serving six years in the Indiana National Guard before the young couple moved to St. Louis. Alan began his career in machining by working with his father at what would become their family business, Accurate Machine & Mfg Co (AMMCO). After his father's death, he served as President and CEO until retiring in 2013.

In 1972, Sylvia had a surprise home birth with preemie Gretchen, while Alan was enjoying the view from box seats at the Cardinals-Giants game at Busch Stadium (Cards won 4-2). After being summoned to the first aid station to receive the news, he was so eager to get home that he went the wrong direction on Highway 40 and ended up in East St. Louis.

A few years later, his son Clay was born and the family was complete. The Kaufmans enjoyed many years of true American road trips (and endured many backseat fights). They went back to Indiana frequently and in the summers drove to Disney World, Hilton Head, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Arizona where they rode mules on the edge of the Grand Canyon, even though Alan hated heights.

For many years, Alan and Sylvia enjoyed season tickets to the Blues and the Rams, where they loved tailgating downtown. Both of their kids graduated from KU, which led to a lifetime of March Madness for Jayhawk basketball and a home bar decorated in crimson and blue.

Over the years, Alan's hobbies included coffee at Steak 'n Shake, rounds of weekend golf, snacking on potato chips and fun-size candy, and hosting big get-togethers for extended family and friends (or perhaps just sitting in his recliner, enjoying the good food that Sylvia prepared for the get-togethers). He was a master of Free Cell Solitaire and the undisputed champion of TV sitcom and movie reruns. One of his greatest joys in life was laughing at a show he'd already seen a million times. If Alan had used social media (or owned a cell phone) his hashtag would have been #Lovetolaugh.

He is survived by his sisters Kay Neill of Huntersville, NC, and Lana Cochran of Arlington Heights, IL, and his brother Greg Kaufman of O'Fallon, MO. He was always "Uncle Al" to his loving nephews and nieces. Alan leaves behind his wife, Sylvia, daughter Gretchen and her husband Rick Burch of Kansas City, son Clay and wife Stacia Kaufman of St. Louis, and his much-adored twin granddaughters, Ella and Emma Kaufman. Nothing could bring a smile to his face faster than two little girls running towards him yelling, "Papa! Papa!"

Instead of flowers, please consider a donation to Shriners Hospital for Children - St. Louis or to the charity of your choice in his name.

Services: There will be a private celebration of life in September. Cremation was under the care of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway, Ballwin.  Friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.