Obituary of Henry Hank Austerman

IN LOVING MEMORY OF HENRY "HANK" AUSTERMAN Henry "Hank Austerman, son of Henry and Melanie (Klein) Austerman, was born August 4, 1925, on the family farm in New Almelo, Kansas, and passed away at his home in Norton, Kansas, on July 28, 2015, at the age of 89. Hank grew to manhood on the family farm in New Almelo, Kansas, where he helped his father with the farm work, as his two brothers were in the Army, while attending the New Almelo schools. Hank enlisted in the Army in June 1943, he was 17 and reported for duty on November 3rd, 1943. He trained at Fort Hood, Texas as an Engineer Tech on the M-8 Tank Destroyers. After a 10 day delay in route, Hank spent 10 days on Furlough with his parents and proceeded on to Fort George Mead, MD, for additional training. Hank was honorably discharged receiving the Purple Heart Medal with 1 Bronze oak Leaf Cluster on November 3, 1945. After returning from the Army, he started working for Standard Oil Co, in Bird City, Kansas. Hank and Sally moved to Wichita, Kansas for a brief period of time before moving to Logan, Kansas in 1954. Hank later went on to work as the first employee of Rural Telephone, where he was later appointed Assistant Manager in 1968. In June of 1974, Hank became the Manager until his retirement in January 1986, at the age of 60. On October 8, 1946, Hank and Rosella (Sally) Gasper were united in marriage in Tipton, Kansas. Hank greatly enjoyed farming and restoring cars and John Deere tractors. He loved his family, especially his grand and great- grandchildren. Survivors include: his loving wife, Sally Austerman of their home in Norton; two sons, Randy, and wife, Donna Austerman, Monument, Colorado; Ron Austerman, Fountain Hills, Arizona; two daughters, Shirley, and husband, Darrell Gottschalk, Wakeeney, Kansas; Sandra, and husband, Terry Gottschalk, Logan, Kansas; one sister-in-law, Caroline Austerman, Norton, Kansas; 10 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; several other relatives and friends. Hank was preceded in death by, his parents, two brothers, Rex and Carl, one sister Zita Conley, son-in-law, Dave Bowers and great-granddaugther, Naudya Jo Gottschalk. ROSARY SERVICE – Friday, July 31, 2015—7:00 PM PLACE – Enfield Funeral Home – 215 W. Main – Norton, KS MASS OF THE CHRISTIAN BURIAL – Saturday, August 1, 2015—10:30 AM PLACE – New Almelo St. Joseph Catholic Church – New Almelo, Kansas INTERMENT – New Almelo St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery – New Almelo, Kansas MEMORIALS – Wounded Warriors – Fort Riley, Kansas FRIENDS MAY CALL – at the Enfield Funeral Home in Norton on Friday, July 31, 2015—4:00 PM until 7:00 PM