(Photo)

Thomas Lynn Austin, was born, Dec. 19, 1951, in San Diego, Calif. Grew up in Nebraska mainly in Decatur, Kearney, and graduated from Blair High School in 1972. He married Virginia “Ginger” Lund, July 11, 1972, in the Blair Rose Garden. His greatest accomplishment was being married to Ginger Austin for 50 years, and raising their family. Tom and Ginger had four children, daughter, Cory Austin Mahnke (Eric) Mahnke, Scribner, daughter, Roni Austin, of Uheling, son, Derick Austin, Blair, and daughter, Kristi (James) Houston, Oakland. They have 16 grandchildren, Levi Mahnke, Warren Austin, Kaitlyn Mahnke, Taylor Burt, Maison King, Tanner Austin, Carter Burt, Aiden King, Kenzie Burt, Dawson Houston, Reis, Parks, Mary Austin, Jersey Houston, Lia Venneman, Aleksis Houston and Aubrey Houston.

Ton worked and retired from OPPD. He became a truck driver later in life and enjoyed the open road. He had many passions in his life. Early in life he was a Boy Scout and served on the Civil Air patrol. He had wanted to serve in the military.

He was a black belt in Tai Kwon Do, and helped teach at the Blair Karate School for many years. He was a proud gun collector and survivalist. He enjoyed scuba diving, skydiving, parasailing, riding motorcycles, repelling and camping. He enjoyed his freedom! He loved classic cars and motorcycles. He was an animal lover and had many wonderful dogs he loved.

Tom fought prostate cancer, then melanoma and survived, but after a 10 month battles he lost his fight with brain cancer on November 15, 2022, in his home with his loving family at his bedside.

Celebration of Life, Dec. 10, 2022, 2 to 5 p.m., at the Blair Pizza Hut. Pizza and drinks provided.

~~~Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~