Fred Kaffenberger, an 80-year-old retired Marine, died while laying Christmas wreaths on the graves of U.S. veterans at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Kansas last Saturday.
According to a local report, Kaffenberger was a historian, former history teacher and civics teacher, and a member of The Sons of the American Revolution. He was participating in an annual wreath-laying ceremony at the cemetery – a practice he'd dedicated much of his life to – when he passed away suddenly.
From the report:
Kaffenberger spent much of his time honoring veterans, whether it be at parades, funerals or at cemeteries, decorating veterans' graves.
Kaffenberger, in full uniform, was at Leavenworth National Cemetery with the group Saturday laying hundreds of Christmas wreaths. The event happened to be the four-year anniversary of when his son-in-law was interred there.
The report adds Kaffenberger’s death was sudden, and doctors have not been able to determine why he passed away. But despite his unexpected passing, Kaffenberger’s wife said it was exactly the way her husband would have wanted to spend his final few moments.
“This is the way he would’ve chosen to go. Wouldn’t you want to go doing what you love to do and go in an instant?" Wanda Kaffenberger asked. "Yeah, I would too.