Oscar Ausen, 1927-2016

Published 10:27 am Thursday, June 9, 2016

Funeral services for Oscar Ausen, 89, of Hartland will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at West Freeborn Lutheran Church. The Rev. Mark Hillmer will officiate. Interment will be at West Freeborn Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Oscar died Thursday, June 2, 2016, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea.

Oscar Ausen was born April 19, 1927, the 11th of 12 children of John and Caroline (Hallum) Aasen in Manchester Township. He was baptized and confirmed at West Freeborn Lutheran Church. He attended country school District 21 through the eighth grade and graduated from Freeborn High School in 1945.

Oscar Ausen

Oscar Ausen

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He married LaVaun Vint at West Freeborn Lutheran Church on Aug. 25, 1948. They farmed together west of Hartland for 68 years. They had five children. Oscar loved to farm and he was proud of his Holstein cows. He milked cows for 40 years. He was president of Hartland Creamery until it closed and was then president of Clarks Grove Creamery. He was a lifetime member of West Freeborn Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir, held many offices and volunteered many, many hours. He also belonged to Sons of Norway. He enjoyed woodworking, being with family and talking with everybody. Coffee and afternoon lunch were very important to him.

Oscar is survived by his wife, LaVaun; children Lynne (Vern Drake) Arneson, Lorie Grunzke, Steven Ausen, Glenn (Karen) Ausen and Ronald (Terri) Ausen; grandchildren Craig, Jack (Kelly) and Scott (Alexandria) Arneson, Kylie (Jacob) Rieke, Kurt and Kellie Grunzke, Devin Ausen and Stacie (Casey) Madson, and Taylor and Emma Ausen; great-grandchildren Annabelle and Finley Arneson, Avery and Maya Rieke and Evelyn Madson; many nieces and nephews; brother, Paul Aasen; and sister-in-law, Margrette Aasen.

Oscar was preceded in death by his parents John and Caroline Aasen; siblings Eric (Viola), Olive (Homer Carlson and Al Nordeen), Igna (Arvil Olson), Agnes (Lyth Hartz), Ruth (Gilbert Solheid), Edgar (Doris), Lillian (Sylvan Berg and Frits Young), Carroll; one infant brother; one infant sister; father and mother-in-law Floyd and Dagmar Vint; and son-in-law, Garry Grunzke.

He loved his wife, LaVaun; his family, his home, his church and farming.