Funeral services for Oscar Ausen, age 89, of Hartland, will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at West Freeborn Lutheran Church. Rev. Mark Hillmer will officiate. Interment will be at West Freeborn Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2016 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 8th grade and graduated from Freeborn High School in 1945. He married LaVaun Vint at West Freeborn Lutheran Church on August 25, 1948. They farmed together, west of Hartland for 68 years. They are the parents of 5 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 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 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, Ronald (Terri) Ausen; grandchildren, Craig, Jack (Kelly) and Scott (Alexandria) Arneson; Kylie (Jacob) Rieke, Kurt and Kellie Grunzke; Devin Ausen and Stacie (Casey) Madson; Taylor and Emma Ausen; great-grandchildren, Annabelle and Finley Arneson; Avery and Maya Rieke; 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 and one infant sister; father and mother-in-law, Floyd and Dagmar Vint; and son-in-law, Garry Grunzke.
He loved his wife LaVaun, family, home, church, and farming.