Editor
Joseph Golfman, known as Monroe Township’s hometown hero, passed away on May 13 at the age of 96.
Golfman is remembered fondly by his daughters, Sandra Pearson and Jeanne Rufft. Both remember how involved he was in his community.
Golfman participated in his church, United Methodist in Laurel, playing baseball and playing Santa Claus at Monroe Elementary School, according to his obituary.
He also helped out whenever he could. He fixed whatever he could in the church and brought the bases to church so they could play softball, Rufft said.
Golfman was born on May 27, 1919 in Cincinnati to Nathan and Hattie Golfman. He married Shirley Sellars Golfman, who died in 1990.
He served in Patton’s Army in World War II, where he received three Purple Heart medals and a Bronze star.
One of his Purple Heart medals is from the Battle of the Bulge.
During the war, he was the platoon sergeant for three groups. In addition, he recently received the National Order of the Legion of Honour, according to his obituary.
Golfman was the shortest man in his platoon by nearly a head, Pearson said. She remembers her father telling lots of war stories, including at Veteran’s Day events.
During the funeral procession, students at Monroe Elementary stood outside the school and waved flags and members of the Monroe Township Fire Department stood outside in their dress uniforms and saluted, Pearson said, adding that this touched her and her sister.
One of Pearson’s fondest memories of her father is helping him work on things, such as cars or the yard.
“I was always out there working with him,” Pearson said. She also remembers Golfman playing with them a lot.
Rufft remembers when her father spent three months in Minnesota and then three months once they got back to Ohio taking care of her after a back surgery, even though he also had surgery in Minnesota. Golfman even washed her hair.
“He was my strength through all my sickness I had,” Rufft said, adding that he was also her strength throughout her life.
Pearson remembers her father as very neat. He had a shovel that is more than 70 years old but still looks brand new, she said.
Golfman is also survived by his son-in-law Paul Pearson, his grandchildren Rodney (Anna) Beckwith and Joseph Rufft, his great-grandchildren Katie Rufft, Victory Beckwith and Serenity Beckwith, his sister Joyce Carson and his sister-in-law Ellen Golfman.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Morris and Charles Golfman.
The funeral was held on May 20, followed by interment at Mt. Zion Cemetery in New Richmond.