Austin, Edward Lee

AUSTIN, SHAFFER, OVERHOLSER

Posted By: Lorelei Rusco (email)
Date: 6/5/2014 at 15:50:51

Austin, Edward Lee -
Edward Lee Austin was born February 21, 1932, in Clearfield, IA to Clarence and Nellie
(Shaffer) Austin. Eddie departed his life at his home north of Diagonal, Monday,
December 12, 2005, at the age of 73 years, 9 months and 12 days.
Eddie moved to what became the home place as a young boy and has lived and
farmed in the general area the remainder of his life. Farming was Eddie's passion, starting
at a young age farming in partnership with his dad. On July 4, 1950, he was united in marriage
with Bessie Overholser. They moved to the house across the road and lived there for about
three years. While living here they were blessed with two children, Dixie and Mike.
Eddie and Bessie, along with the two kids moved to a farm one mile east where they
lived until 1970. In 195?, they were blessed with Becky. In 1970, Eddie decided Bessie
needed more rooms to clean and they put a double wide on top of the hill between the first
house and the second house. Through all these years of farming, Eddie worked with his
dad and brothers and brother-in-law. During the next few years Eddie and Bessie became
the grandparents of six grandchildren, Amy, Shane, Paul, Kerry, Kylene and of course Jason.
In the early 90's Eddie and Bessie moved one mile west of the home place. During the mid
90's Eddie and Bessie started going to Texas to enjoy winters in the warmth. While in
Texas they enjoyed their many winter Texan friends, jamming and trips to Mexico. In the
spring when it was time to return to Iowa, they would leave their southern home and their
Texas belongings in the care of their very good friends, Joe and Erma Zapata. Joe and Eddie
were always repairing someone's house or fixing the plumbing. In 1999, Eddie and Bessie
decided to move back to the original starting point, the home place on the High & Dry
Road. It is surprising they had time to move so many times. Between farming, grandkids
and jamming there was not much time left for anything else.
Preceding Eddie in death were a grandson, Paul Austin, his parents, Clarence and Nellie
Austin and parents-in-law, Stanley and Helen Overholser; sister-in-law, Mary Austin,
brother and sister-in-law, Delbert and Betty McCombs and brother-in-law Ed Fletcher.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Bessie, son; Mike Austin (special friend - Kim
Deschene) of Sauk Centre, Minn.; daughters: Dixie (Bruce) Baker, Creston; Becky
(Steven) Stamps, Diagonal. Grandchildren: Amy (Jerry) Schultes, Creston; Shane Austin,
Council Bluffs, IA.; Kerry (Lynnae) Austin, Sauk Centre, Minn. Kylene (Isaac) Lumbard and Jason
(Shauna) Stamps, Diagonal. Great grandchildren: Danika Schultes, Sophia Austin, Taylor
Lumbard and Skyler Stamps. Brothers: Charles (Carol) Austin, Vinita, OK. and Tom (Liane)
Austin, Des Moines. Sister: Virginia (Charles) Morris, Perry, IA. Sister-in-law, Bonnie Fletcher,
Diagonal and brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Barb Tjaden, Titonka, IA and many nieces,
nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Services were held on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 at the United Church of
Diagonal. The officiating ministers were: Rev. John Beran and Rev. Eydie Stephens. The
music was provided by: Judy Newton, Jim George, David Wiley, Ruth Ann Berk and
Paul Loy. The casket bearers were: Shane Austin, Amy and Jerry Schultes, and Kerry
and Lynnae Austin Burial was in the Union Cemetery, Diagonal, Iowa.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday December 21, 2005