Elvin Austin

Elvin Al Austin was a thoughtful, caring and devoted husband, father and grandfather, who cherished every moment he was able to spend with his children and grandchildren. With a strong work ethic and attentive heart, he accomplished much in life and loved abundantly. 1938 was a year of events and accomplishments in the United States. President Roosevelt signed The Fair Standard Act, which raised the minimum wage to 25 cents an hour. Meanwhile, the country delighted in the release of the film version of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, and trembled in fear while listening to Orson Welles broadcast his infamous War of the Worlds on the radio. In the quiet community of Colton, South Dakota, Gordon Austin, a farmer, and his wife, Clara (Kock), were celebrating something of even greater importance the birth of their first child on January 11, 1938, a son they named Elvin Arnold Austin. The Austin household would eventually become a bustling place with five children: Elvin, Dennis, Mary, Eileen and Cherie. Al grew up on their family farm in Colton, where they raised cows and grew corn. His parents made sure the kids learned responsibility by pitching in with the many farm chores. Al attended the rural school in Colton, where he was known to pull a prank or two. One time, he turned the clocks forward so they could get out of school early. Tragically, the Austin farmhouse burned down and the family lost everything. They moved to Dell Rapids for a while until they could get back on their feet. Meanwhile, Al left school before graduating so he could help out on his uncles farm, who had been injured. Al met his first wife, Marlys Reemts, at a dance and after dating for a time, they fell in love. However, in order to find work, Al and his buddy went to Grand Haven, Michigan and got a job in a piano factory. They stayed here for a couple of years, but Al eventually went home to South Dakota and married his sweetheart, Marlys, in 1959. It wasnt the two of them for long though, because later that year, their son Bryan was born, followed by Daniel in 1960, and Mark in 1962. They completed their family in 1970, with the births of their twin daughters, Traci and Tamra. Providing for his family was always Als first priority. The family moved around quite a bit so that he could get work. They lived in Grand Haven for a few years before heading back to South Dakota, and then out to the west coast of California for a short time before finally putting down roots in the early 1970s in Spring Lake, Michigan on 144th Street. A man of many talents, Al worked a variety of different jobs and usually several part-time jobs at a time; he made motorcycle helmets, was a milkman, washed cars. By the time they settled in Spring Lake, Al went to work at Dake Corporation, and remained here for 17 years. Despite his heavy work load, Al was never too busy for his children. He was always attentive and a great support to them in all their endeavors. He enjoyed teaching his sons how to hunt and fish. He started out with a small fishing boat, which he eventually upgraded to a 20 foot bow rider that could fit the whole family. They would pack the boat up and go camping all along the river banks. The family also took trips every year to South Dakota to visit Als relatives. Church was important to Al too, and they were members of St. Matthews Lutheran Church, where he served as a Deacon. Als marriage to Marlys ended in the late 1980s, which resulted in a very rough patch in his life. Then, as fate would have it, Al met Kathleen Praay, who gently helped him through to see a brighter day. After dating for a time, the two knew they were meant for each other and were happily married on August 12, 1989. It was said they liked to do things at the spur of the moment, like taking a midnight boat ride. Al also liked to golf and play cards with his family and friends, including Texas Holdem and 31. During this time, Al worked for a short time as a truck driver before going to work in maintenance at Tru Value Mobile Homes. As a team, Al and Kathy also hauled RVs for All Seasons RV as a side job. Then, in 2000, the couple made the decision to sell everything they had and become working campers. This meant they would move to a campground and live out of their 5th wheel trailer while managing the park for about 6 months before moving on to their next destination. Real travel warriors, their adventures took them to Florida, the Carolinas, Minnesota and back to Silver Lake in the summers to work at Jellystone Park, Wild Bills and Parrot Landing, renting dune buggies and quads. Al was a huge NASCAR and Richard Petty fan, and he and son Mark would park their 5th wheel in the infield at Michigan International Speedway and walk the pits trying to get autographs from the drivers. One time, while attending the Daytona race, Al waited 12 hours outside the gate just to catch a glimpse of Richard Petty driving out. Al had many hobbies he enjoyed in his leisure time. He bowled on a league for several years, went deer hunting every year with his buddies and had a big vegetable garden that he enjoyed working in. Above all though, Al simply treasured the moments he spent with his wife, children and grandchildren, who he loved dearly. He also fostered a close relationship with his mother, who on occasion traveled with him and Kathy. Al kept a pretty active and busy lifestyle, even in his retirement years. However, last year he began having issues with his heart and lungs, and eventually had to have a pacemaker implanted and be on oxygen. These health problems kept Al in and out of the hospital, which was very frustrating for him since he liked being on the go. Although his mind was willing, his body was not and it continued to weaken. He passed away on Sunday, October 24, 2010, in Mears, Michigan at the age of 72. Al was a wonderful fun loving, hardworking man with a great sense of humor. He would plant a kiss right on your lips when he greeted you and could always be counted on to be there when you needed him. A loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, Al will be greatly missed and remembered forever. Al is survived by his wife of 21 years, Kathleen; sons, Bryan (Kim) Austin of Fruitport, Daniel Austin of Spring Lake, Mark (Gayle) Austin of Fruitport; daughters, Traci Austin of Fruitport, Tamra Weathers of Spring Lake; step daughter, Kitty Neuberger of Kent City; 14 grandchildren: Mellissa (Ted) Travys, Ty, Trevor, Bryce, Jacob, Logan, Levi, Crue, Nash, Roan, Blair (Jason), Darnell, Adam; 4 great grandchildren, Makayla Skye, Caleb, Jadelyn, Brooklyn; sisters, Cherie (Loren) Nelson, Eileen (Willie) Johnston, Mary Sterud; brother, Dennis "Butch" (Linda) Austin. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Rhonda Lynn, in 1961. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, October 27, at 7:00 p.m. at the Clock Chapel of Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Grand Haven. Visitation is on Wednesday, from 2-4 & 6-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the family. Please visit Als personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com where you may share a memory or sign the online guest book.