Age 97, of Platteville died on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at Upland Hills Nursing & Rehab, Dodgeville. The son of Charles and Josephine (Peebles) Baxter, he was born midway between Cuba City and Platteville. Austin met his wife, Margaret Hess, June 19, 1936. They were married June 19, 1939. They enjoyed 69 years of marriage. After graduating from college, Austin worked for the United States Treasury Department in Madison, WI., as an auditor. He later moved his family to Evansville, WI, and became the Cost Accountant for Baker Mfg. Co. In 1943 the family moved to the home farm in Cuba City to make a home for his widower father who wanted to remain on the farm. He and Margaret lived on the farm for 48 years, where they raised their family before retiring in Platteville in 1991.
He was very active in community affairs where he served on many boards and committees including: The Benton Town Board, Lafayette County FHA Board, ASCS Committee as a surveyor, and was a member of the Board of Directors of Cuba City State Bank for more than 25 years. In 1946 he joined the Knights of Columbus, became Grand Knight of Council 765, served as District Deputy and worked on many state committees and at many state conventions. Austin was elected State Secretary of the Knights of Columbus in 1979, State Deputy in 1981, and Master of the Western District 4th Degree in 1987. He loved the Knights of Columbus and what they stood for. He worked at the WSWW radio station from 1968-1982. He served on Bishop O’Donnell’s Laity Committee and helped draft the first Pastoral Council, serving on the first Madison Diocesan Council. He served on Bishop Bullock’s Strategic Planning Board and helped draft the Strategic Plan for the future of the Madison Diocese. Austin and Margaret were awarded the honor by Pope John Paul II of becoming members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher in the Jubilee year 2000.
He was the proud patriarch of his large and extended family, his 20 grandchildren and his 40 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren. Austin was preceded in death by his loving wife Margaret (in 2008), son John (in 2005), 2 son-in-laws (Lloyd Bowden and Willie Welch), his parents, 2 brothers (Joe “Merlin” and Robert,) 2 sisters (Nelma O’Brien and Loretta May), and a baby boy.
He was very active in community affairs where he served on many boards and committees including: The Benton Town Board, Lafayette County FHA Board, ASCS Committee as a surveyor, and was a member of the Board of Directors of Cuba City State Bank for more than 25 years. In 1946 he joined the Knights of Columbus, became Grand Knight of Council 765, served as District Deputy and worked on many state committees and at many state conventions. Austin was elected State Secretary of the Knights of Columbus in 1979, State Deputy in 1981, and Master of the Western District 4th Degree in 1987. He loved the Knights of Columbus and what they stood for. He worked at the WSWW radio station from 1968-1982. He served on Bishop O’Donnell’s Laity Committee and helped draft the first Pastoral Council, serving on the first Madison Diocesan Council. He served on Bishop Bullock’s Strategic Planning Board and helped draft the Strategic Plan for the future of the Madison Diocese. Austin and Margaret were awarded the honor by Pope John Paul II of becoming members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher in the Jubilee year 2000.
He was the proud patriarch of his large and extended family, his 20 grandchildren and his 40 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren. Austin was preceded in death by his loving wife Margaret (in 2008), son John (in 2005), 2 son-in-laws (Lloyd Bowden and Willie Welch), his parents, 2 brothers (Joe “Merlin” and Robert,) 2 sisters (Nelma O’Brien and Loretta May), and a baby boy.
Age 97, of Platteville died on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at Upland Hills Nursing & Rehab, Dodgeville. The son of Charles and Josephine (Peebles) Baxter, he was born midway between Cuba City and Platteville. Austin met his wife, Margaret Hess, June 19, 1936. They were married June 19, 1939. They enjoyed 69 years of marriage. After graduating from college, Austin worked for the United States Treasury Department in Madison, WI., as an auditor. He later moved his family to Evansville, WI, and became the Cost Accountant for Baker Mfg. Co. In 1943 the family moved to the home farm in Cuba City to make a home for his widower father who wanted to remain on the farm. He and Margaret lived on the farm for 48 years, where they raised their family before retiring in Platteville in 1991.
He was very active in community affairs where he served on many boards and committees including: The Benton Town Board, Lafayette County FHA Board, ASCS Committee as a surveyor, and was a member of the Board of Directors of Cuba City State Bank for more than 25 years. In 1946 he joined the Knights of Columbus, became Grand Knight of Council 765, served as District Deputy and worked on many state committees and at many state conventions. Austin was elected State Secretary of the Knights of Columbus in 1979, State Deputy in 1981, and Master of the Western District 4th Degree in 1987. He loved the Knights of Columbus and what they stood for. He worked at the WSWW radio station from 1968-1982. He served on Bishop O’Donnell’s Laity Committee and helped draft the first Pastoral Council, serving on the first Madison Diocesan Council. He served on Bishop Bullock’s Strategic Planning Board and helped draft the Strategic Plan for the future of the Madison Diocese. Austin and Margaret were awarded the honor by Pope John Paul II of becoming members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher in the Jubilee year 2000.
He was the proud patriarch of his large and extended family, his 20 grandchildren and his 40 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren. Austin was preceded in death by his loving wife Margaret (in 2008), son John (in 2005), 2 son-in-laws (Lloyd Bowden and Willie Welch), his parents, 2 brothers (Joe “Merlin” and Robert,) 2 sisters (Nelma O’Brien and Loretta May), and a baby boy.
He was very active in community affairs where he served on many boards and committees including: The Benton Town Board, Lafayette County FHA Board, ASCS Committee as a surveyor, and was a member of the Board of Directors of Cuba City State Bank for more than 25 years. In 1946 he joined the Knights of Columbus, became Grand Knight of Council 765, served as District Deputy and worked on many state committees and at many state conventions. Austin was elected State Secretary of the Knights of Columbus in 1979, State Deputy in 1981, and Master of the Western District 4th Degree in 1987. He loved the Knights of Columbus and what they stood for. He worked at the WSWW radio station from 1968-1982. He served on Bishop O’Donnell’s Laity Committee and helped draft the first Pastoral Council, serving on the first Madison Diocesan Council. He served on Bishop Bullock’s Strategic Planning Board and helped draft the Strategic Plan for the future of the Madison Diocese. Austin and Margaret were awarded the honor by Pope John Paul II of becoming members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher in the Jubilee year 2000.
He was the proud patriarch of his large and extended family, his 20 grandchildren and his 40 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren. Austin was preceded in death by his loving wife Margaret (in 2008), son John (in 2005), 2 son-in-laws (Lloyd Bowden and Willie Welch), his parents, 2 brothers (Joe “Merlin” and Robert,) 2 sisters (Nelma O’Brien and Loretta May), and a baby boy.
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Married 1939
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Joan, Judy, Jean, John, Janet, Baby, Joyce, Julie
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