Obituary for Robert Gordon Austen
Robert Gordon Austen
Robert Gordon Austen of Pembroke, Ontario died peacefully in the Ottawa Civic Hospital on Monday, January 30th, 2023 in his 77th year. He is preceded in death by his parents, Douglas and Alice Austen, and his brother, Douglas Austen Jr. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 44 years, Barbara Austen (nee Thuemen), and his children, Rebecca Marchinda (Kenneth), Terrance Austen (Carmen), and Michael Austen (Jennifer). He is survived by his twelve grandchildren, Francis, Maria, Cedric, Isaac, Patrick, Holly, Maximilian, Benedict, Alexander, Felicity, Elizabeth, and Gianna.
Robert “Shug” Austen was born on August 23rd, 1946 in Deep River, Ontario. He attended Mackenzie High School and the University of Guelph, where he received a diploma in agricultural studies. He married Barbara on June 30th, 1979 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pembroke and together they purchased the farm (“Alice Acres”) that they would own and work for their entire marriage, raising pastured Charolais beef cattle. In addition to organic farming, Robert worked for a short time at Atomic Energy in Chalk River, bowled for the Pembroke "Oddballs" (a blind bowling team), sold locally sourced pork sausage, and coached softball in the Pembroke Minor Girls Softball League. For many years, he ran a weekly indoor softball clinic for young athletes who wished to hone their skills during the long Pembroke winters. After he completed the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (“RCIA”), Robert was received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in 1998. Robert was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Pembroke.
Visitation will take place at Murphy Funeral Home on Friday, February 3rd from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am on Saturday, February 4th at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 284 Trafalgar Rd, Pembroke, Ontario. The Rite of Committal and Burial will take place at St. Columba’s Cemetery following the Mass and a light luncheon will be served in the Holy Name of Jesus Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to First Step Options or Holy Name Church Restoration Fund be made in Robert’s name.
Robert Gordon Austen of Pembroke, Ontario died peacefully in the Ottawa Civic Hospital on Monday, January 30th, 2023 in his 77th year. He is preceded in death by his parents, Douglas and Alice Austen, and his brother, Douglas Austen Jr. He is survived by his loving wife of almost 44 years, Barbara Austen (nee Thuemen), and his children, Rebecca Marchinda (Kenneth), Terrance Austen (Carmen), and Michael Austen (Jennifer). He is survived by his twelve grandchildren, Francis, Maria, Cedric, Isaac, Patrick, Holly, Maximilian, Benedict, Alexander, Felicity, Elizabeth, and Gianna.
Robert “Shug” Austen was born on August 23rd, 1946 in Deep River, Ontario. He attended Mackenzie High School and the University of Guelph, where he received a diploma in agricultural studies. He married Barbara on June 30th, 1979 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pembroke and together they purchased the farm (“Alice Acres”) that they would own and work for their entire marriage, raising pastured Charolais beef cattle. In addition to organic farming, Robert worked for a short time at Atomic Energy in Chalk River, bowled for the Pembroke "Oddballs" (a blind bowling team), sold locally sourced pork sausage, and coached softball in the Pembroke Minor Girls Softball League. For many years, he ran a weekly indoor softball clinic for young athletes who wished to hone their skills during the long Pembroke winters. After he completed the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (“RCIA”), Robert was received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in 1998. Robert was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Pembroke.
Visitation will take place at Murphy Funeral Home on Friday, February 3rd from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am on Saturday, February 4th at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 284 Trafalgar Rd, Pembroke, Ontario. The Rite of Committal and Burial will take place at St. Columba’s Cemetery following the Mass and a light luncheon will be served in the Holy Name of Jesus Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to First Step Options or Holy Name Church Restoration Fund be made in Robert’s name.