Joel Kauffmann, whose cartoon strip Pontius’ Puddle has enlivened the pages of church periodicals for three decades and whose screenplay for the 1990 film The Radicals dramatized the birth of Anabaptism, died May 8 at South Bend (Ind.) Memorial Hospital. He was 64.

“Joel had an uncanny ability and gift to communicate simply and clearly deep theological truths and social realities,” said J Ron Byler, executive director of Mennonite Central Committee U.S., speaking at the memorial service May 11 at College Mennonite Church in Goshen, Ind., where Kauffmann was a member. “Pontius’ Puddle was only the tip of the iceberg.”

According Kauffmann’s wife, Nancy, a blood clot in a lung caused him to fall during a walk with her on May 2. He hit his head . . .