Donald E. Austin Sr.

Donald E. Austin Sr., 84, of Mason City, died Wednesday, October 1, 2014, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 8, 2014, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, with Rev. Kenneth Gehling officiating. Interment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Mason City Veterans Association. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Donald Austin memorial fund in care of the family. Donald was born February 5, 1930, in Mason City, the son of Floyd and Arlet “Arlee” (Thompson) Austin. He attended Mason City Public Schools. On August 17, 1946, Don married Arlette “Tiny” Jermeland in Mason City. To this union were born three children; Marilyn, Linda and Don Jr. Don and his family lived in the Mason City/Clear Lake area most of their lives. On April 23, 1948, Don enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a PFC until his honorable discharge on July 15, 1949. He drove semi-truck for many years and worked at Rome LTD Equipment as a Sales Rep. for 20+ years before his retirement in 1992. After his retirement Don volunteered at DAV transporting patients for their appointments. Don enjoyed spending time with his family – especially his grandchildren and only great grandson, Gavin. He also enjoyed fishing, woodworking and stock car racing in his younger years. Don was an avid reader many times finishing two or more books in a day. He also claimed to be an Iowa State fan but also became a Hawkeyes fan as well. Don is survived by his 3 children: Marilyn Seward and husband Richard of Santee, CA, Linda Ell and husband Dennis of Mason City, and Donald Austin Jr. of Des Moines, IA; 7 grandchildren: Richard (Charlotte) Seward and Jamie Seward, Charlie and Chad Weaver and Lindsay (Craig) Budach; 1 great grandson: Gavin Budach; 1 sister: Delores Boster of Florida; and 1 brother: Jerry Austin of Florida and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Arlette in 1994; and 1 brother: Kenneth.

Cemetery:
Interment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery with Military Honors conducted by the Mason City Veterans Association.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Donald Austin memorial fund in care of the family.

Service:
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 8, 2014, at Major Erickson Funeral Home.