Mary A. Austin

Mary A. Austin, 87 year old resident of Pierz, MN, passed away on Thursday, September 6, 2018 at the Pierz Villa. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 A.M., Monday, September 10, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Pierz, MN with Father Kenneth Popp officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Parish Cemetery in Pierz. Visitation will be Sunday from 4 to 8 P.M. and from 9 to 10 A.M. on Monday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Pierz. Parish Prayers will be at 7:30 PM on Sunday. Funeral arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Pierz, MN. Mary was born on March 26, 1931 in Little Falls, MN to the late Jake and Rose (Medek) Girtz the 11th child of 19. Mary went through the 8th grade then went off to work in Illinois. In October of 1950 Mary was united in marriage to James M. Austin and together they had six children. Together they owned and operated Jim’s Place in Pierz for many years and were also part owners of The Old Bank Restaurant in Pierz, MN. Mary then had many waitressing jobs over the years, also worked at the American Legion, Kentucky Fried Chicken and lastly at Taco Johns in Little Falls where she retired at the age of 80. Mary loved being around her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her great-great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed visiting everyone she met and was known to BS with the best of them. She enjoyed shaking dice, playing a good game of Smear, Bingo, and most of all playing the stumpf fiddle. Mary is survived by sons, Franklin (Elaine) Austin, Bruce (Cindy) Austin, and James (Gloria) Austin; daughters, Berniece (Steve) Vogl and Nelda (Kevin) Starr; daughter-in-law, Debbie (Jim) Wensel Austin; brothers, Ervin Girtz, Danny (Jan) Girtz, Gilbert (Joyce) Girtz; sisters, Delrose Keyes, Doreen Kapsner, Beatrice Adams, Alice Kahlhamer, and Sharlet (William) Lewis; 17 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by husband, James Austin (1996); son, Gordon Austin (2002); parents, Jacob and Rose Girtz; brothers, Leo Girtz, Virgil Girtz and infant James; sisters, Verna Gruber, Margaret Loidolt, Genevieve Franklin, Mildred Terhaar, Hildegarde Dudink, Josephine Kaski, and Mary Jane Merkling; brothers-in-law, Art Gruber, Hubert Loidolt, Jerry Franklin, Severin Terhaar, Gerard Merkling, Dick Kaski, Eddie Merkling, John Adams, Roman Kahlhamer, Art Kapsner, Larry Selinger and Lee Keyes; sisters-in-law, LaVerne Girtz, LyAnn Girtz and Rosie Girtz.

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Mary A. Austin

March 26, 1931 - September 6, 2018