LeRoy “Lee” Austad

• VISITATION: 3-4PM Sunday, March 10th, 2024 at ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, (S66 W14325 W Janesville Rd, Muskego 53150)
• SERVICE: 4PM Sunday, March 10th, 2024 at ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, (S66 W14325 W Janesville Rd, Muskego 53150)

 

LeRoy “Lee” Austad

1934 – 2024

LeRoy “Lee” Roger Austad, 89, went home to heaven on March 5, 2024. He was the loving husband of Louise (nee Karlman) for 65 years, and beloved father of Kurt (Luane) Austad, Miya (Jeff) Stigler, and Christen (Heather) Austad. He was a devoted grandpa to Bethany (Augustin) Kazakevicius, Denaye Austad, Tanner (Scarlet) Austad, Parker Austad, Melany Austad, Sam Stigler, Eli Stigler, Luke Austad, Madison Austad, and Molly Austad; and great-grandfather to Kyprian and Hadrian Kazakevicius, and Kiara Austad. Lee is also survived by his sisters, Audrey Zavodski and Angie Hansen, and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Born on October 20, 1934, Lee grew up in the small town of Grygla in northwest Minnesota and excelled at sports. After high school, Lee attended Bemidji State College for a while and fought fires in the Pacific Northwest for a summer before he and his mother (Ann) and his sisters moved to Milwaukee. There, Lee became a machinist’s apprentice at Kearney and Trecker, After completing his apprenticeship, he became a numerically controlled (NC) machine programmer.

Lee served in the U.S. Army for two years and afterward came back to continue working at K&T. While in the Army, he received an award during boot camp for being the most physically fit in his group of over 600 men. In the late 1950’s, Lee met Louise through a friend/co-worker who was related to Louise, and they married on Valentine’s Day in 1959 at Christ Ev. Lutheran Church in Pewaukee, WI.

Lee continued working as a programmer for K&T for 38 years until the company was acquired by a larger firm in the 1990’s. Before retiring for good at 62, he worked for a few years for the local school system, appreciating the less stressful environment he found there. During retirement, Lee and Louise took many trips to places around the world. They especially enjoyed traveling with other couples from their church.

Lee faithfully made sure his children received a solid Christian education from grade school through high school. He was a long-term member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Muskego and served over many years as an usher, on the school board, as an evangelism visitor and as a shut-in visitor. He also volunteered in Antigua with the Builders for Christ program, helping to restore hurricane-damaged church property. Lee was a skilled wood worker and refinisher, and enjoyed turning bowls on his lathe, refinishing furniture, and building and repairing clocks. As his children acquired their own homes, he helped them with their home repair and remodeling projects.

In 2015, Lee and Louise moved from their long-time home in New Berlin to the Stoney Creek retirement complex in Muskego next to their church. Lee was thankful for his time there and the company of many church friends and fellow residents.

The Lord kept Lee faithful in his use of the means of grace, that is, His Word and sacraments, until his soul was carried by God’s holy angel to live with his Savior, Jesus, into all eternity.

“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised.”

Visitation will take place on Sunday, March 10, 2024 from 3PM-4PM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (S66 W14325 W Janesville Rd, Muskego) with a funeral service following at 4PM.

Donations can be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in honor of Lee.

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