Mildred L. Austin

Mildred Austin was a wonderful woman, a hardworking, supportive, and caring lady, who devoted her life to her beloved family. She was a loving mother and grandmother, and the consummate farmer's wife, who lived off the land, and the love of her family.

Mildred's story began on a hot summer day in 1910, in the bustling city of Toledo, Ohio. America was undergoing great changes in every facet of our culture, as new innovations changed everything, in the fields and in the streets. Somewhere across the night sky, Halley's Comet made its once-in-a-lifetime trek through the heavens. In the city of Toledo, Frederick and Sophia (Popenhagen) Holst had something else to celebrate on August 12, 1910, with the birth of a baby girl, a daughter they named Mildred.

Mildred was the baby of eight children in the family, joining older siblings Louise, Ida, Viola, Bert, Fritz, Carl and Marie. Her parents were German immigrants, having arrived in this country years before to seek a better life, coming through Ellis Island in New York like so many others.

When Mildred was a young woman, she moved with her sister to Detroit, where she found work at Hudson's downtown. It wasn't long before her sister met and married a man from the west side of the state, in the little town of Paw Paw.

One day Mildred came to visit her sister, when she met a handsome young farmer who lived a few farms down the road, a man named Delbert Austin. It was love at first sight for the both of them, and a whirlwind romance ensued. He was an excellent dancer, and a happy-go-lucky young man, perfect for the good-natured, fun-loving Mildred. Delbert followed Mildred back to Detroit, where the happy young couple was married on October 16, 1943.

The newlyweds then returned to Paw Paw, where they lived on Delbert's parent's farm on 38th Avenue. Delbert's dad died shortly after they were married, however, and his mother lived with them for a number of years.

Mildred and Delbert were blessed with three terrific children, first son Timothy, then Dennis, with Mary Ann rounding out the happy family. Mildred and Delbert did plenty of "farm engineering" that the kids all helped with, too.

Life wasn't always easy living on the farm; it was hard work, but it was a good life for them, all the same. Their children always thought they had it rough growing up, but in hindsight, they realize how fortunate they were to have had the parents they did.

Their farm was completely self-supporting, and they got everything they needed from their land. Mildred and the kids canned enough for an army every year, and when freezers became available, they froze some food, too. Delbert was also an excellent hunter, helping put plenty of meat on the table. They always had plenty of venison, and Mildred even perfected barbecued raccoon, as her husband was quite the coon hunter, too!

Mildred was an excellent cook, though, and could make anything from scratch. Her staple was beef and potatoes, which was always delicious and a welcome menu. At Christmastime, she also made a holiday red cake, which was also Dennis' birthday cake, since it was so close to Christmas. Mildred and Delbert also made their own homemade wine, as well.

Mildred's homemaking talents extended beyond the kitchen, however. She also was a gifted seamstress, and even made her daughter's wedding dress and all the bridesmaids' dresses, too! Mildred and Delbert "retired" in the mid-1970s, although they stayed as active as ever, really. They still kept an enormous garden, canned a year's worth of vegetables, and devoted plenty of time to their grandchildren. Mildred, especially, became devoted to her grandkids, and loved to dote on them. Mary Ann lived just down the road, so visits to Grandma's house were a regular - and welcome - event.

Mildred had other loves, like watching the Price Is Right in the mornings (she was a big Bob Barker fan!), and she loved Everybody Loves Raymond, too. But most of all, Mildred loved her family, of course. Her beloved Delbert died in 1991, which affected her deeply, but she relied on her family's strength and love to persevere for many years after. Sadly, Mildred died January 4, 2007 at Lakeview Community Hospital in Paw Paw.

Mildred was a wonderful woman, so loving and supportive of those around her. She was a devoted farmer's wife, who lived a farmer's life, full of golden fields and a loving family. It wasn't always an easy life, but it was always a good one, a life she was so thankful for. We are so thankful to have known her. She will be greatly missed.

Learn more about Mildred, view her Life Story Film and visit with her family and friends on Sunday from 4:00-6:00PM at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler & Thompson-Paw Paw, 60900 M-40 657-3870 where a service to honor her life will be held Monday at 11:00AM. Interment will follow at Austin Cemetery, Waverly Township. Her husband, Delbert Austin, preceded her in death in 1991. She was also preceded in death by 7 brothers and sisters. Survivors include three children, Timothy Austin of Paw Paw, Dennis (Susan Schau) Austin of Gobles, Mary Ann (Terry) Weaver of Paw Paw, one daughter-in-law, Mary Jo Austin of Gobles, 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. To read Mildred's complete Life Story, archive a favorite memory or upload a picture, please visit her personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the American Heart Association.