Rosella Catherine “Sally” Austerman, daughter of Nickolas and Regina (Mick) Gasper, was born December 11, 1924, in Tipton, Kansas, and passed away peacefully at her home in Norton, Kansas, on October 1, 2019, at the age of 94.
Sally grew up in the Tipton community and attended the local schools, graduating from the Tipton High School with the class of 1943. On October 8, 1946, Sally married her sweetheart, Henry “Hank” Austerman in Tipton. They made their home in Bird City, New Almelo, and Wichita, Kansas, before moving to Logan, Kansas, in 1954, where they raised their family of four children and Sally served as a cook in the Logan schools for many years. In 1975, Sally and Hank moved to Norton, where they made their home until Hank’s death on July 28, 2015. Sally remained in their home where she enjoyed spending time with family and special friends.
Sally was an active member of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Norton. She enjoyed playing golf and crocheting, and in her later years she enjoyed playing bingo, and working in her vegetable and flower gardens. Sally loved her family, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy.
Survivors include: two sons, Randy, and wife, Donna Austerman, Monument, Colorado; Ron Austerman, Fountain Hills, Arizona; two daughters, Shirley, and husband, Darrell Gottschalk, Wakeeney, Kansas; Sandra, and husband, Terry Gottschalk, Logan, Kansas; one sister-in-law, Helena Gasper, Tipton, Kansas; 10 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, Amy (and the late Farron) Leiker – Brianna, Morgan, Thomas; Tracy (Chad) Dague – Ethan, Brandon, Jenna, Kaylee; Renae (Jake) Wellbrock – Kayler, Drew, Makenna; Michael (Jana) Austerman – Kaitlyn, Kylee; Ryan (Alicia) Austerman; Caroline Austerman and Matthew Austerman; Terra (Steve) Brown – Cody, Chelsi; Clint (Kati) Gottschalk – Karson, Gavin, Easton, Graci, Jeffrey, Angel Naudya Jo; Trent (Ashley) Gottschalk – Camille, Taden, Conner; numerous nieces and nephews, several other relatives and friends.
Sally was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son-in-law, Dave Bowers, one grandson-in-law, Farron Leiker, one great-granddaughter, Naudya Jo Gottschalk, six brothers, Theodore, John, Leo, Walter, Peter, and Felix, four sisters, Katherine Schroeder, Matilda Muths, Pauline Kohn, and Caroline Austerman, two brothers-in-law, Carl (Louise) Austerman, and Rex Austerman, two sisters-in-law, Zita (Dale) Conley, and Cresentia Gasper.
VISITATION – Friday, October 4, 2019 – 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Enfield Funeral Home
ROSARY SERVICE – Friday, October 4, 2019—7:00 p.m.
PLACE – Enfield Funeral Home – 215 W. Main – Norton, KS
MASS OF THE CHRISTIAN BURIAL – Saturday, October 5, 2019 – 10:00 a.m.
PLACE – St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church – Norton, KS
INTERMENT – St. Joseph Cemetery – New Almelo, KS
MEMORIALS – St. Joseph Cemetery in New Almela or St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Norton