Kenneth Herman Augst

Ken was born in Robbinsdale, MN on April 19, 1928 to Marie (Rupert) and John W. Augst. He was the youngest child of four children, and is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Budworth John and Donald Joseph, and sister Joyce Teresa (Augst) Martin. After Ken graduated from high school and attended college, he joined the Civil Defense Police during WWII and also served in the MN State Guard before joining the Army for two years. It was while stationed at Camp Gordon in Augusta, GA, that he met the love of his life, Hattie Louise (Rumsey) Augst. After six months of courtship they were married on 11/24/49, and returned to Minnesota to begin their life together. Ken worked in the construction industry all of his life. He started out by building garages with a relative and then became an apprentice carpenter. From there he worked through the ranks at various companies going from journeyman carpenter, to foreman, then superintendent. He worked for Borson Construction Company for years as a superintendent, and finished his career prior to retirement with Kraus- Anderson Construction Company as a General Superintendent in charge of field operations. Ken’s involvement with the construction industry also included serving as Chairman of the Carpenters Apprenticeship Program for the Carpenters Union. During his career, he and Louise also lived in Danville, IL, for four years while he built two hospitals, and also in Dallas, TX for two years where he supervised and oversaw many various projects. Ken’s many hobbies included hunting for big game in Canada, Idaho and Montana, and also fishing. He was a master modeler of building boats, and in his early years of marriage he assembled small speed boats for Luger Marine which enabled him to buy their first home. He also enjoyed building kitchen cabinets. He loved to travel and he and Louise visited Hawaii several times, places in South America, and enjoyed many luxury cruises in the Caribbean Sea. Ken loved the water, and he and Louise spent many years dividing their time between the family cabin on Lake Pokegama in Pine City, and on their 45 ft. Chris Craft boat, the “Southern Lady”. When Ken retired, he fulfilled his dream of taking his boat down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, and across the Gulf to Ft. Meyers, FL. He also had a vacation home in Estero, FL, and he and Louise enjoyed many wonderful winters there together. Ken’s last construction job was with his sons. It was his living legacy to build a beautiful lake home on Lake Pokegama in place of the old cabin, for his sons and their families to enjoy and always have a place to be together. It is here that Ken lived the last years of his life. Family was everything to Ken and he always said that his biggest accomplishment in life was his wonderful marriage to Louise and raising four outstanding sons. Friends and camaraderie were always important to Ken. He touched people’s lives in a million wonderful ways. His welcoming smile and hearty handshake or hug will be greatly missed by all who knew him. But we are left with memories filled with love and topped with laughter. After a long courageous battle with cancer, Ken passed away peacefully on December 20, 2010 at the Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN, surrounded by his loving family. Ken is survived by his wife Louise, sons Michael (Lana) of Mason, WI, Bud (Sherry) of Ramsey, MN, Kenneth Jr. of Minneapolis, MN, and Jay (Diane) of Ramsey, MN. Grandchildren Marcie, Nathan (Maureen), Adam (Lada), Lindsey (Brian) Turner, Rachael, Kyle, Danny and Lucas. Great-grandchildren Arianna, Michael, and Alana, and many nieces, nephews, and friends. A memorial service will be celebrated by Deacon Gene Biever; Saturday; January 15, 2011 @ 10:30 a.m.; at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City, MN. Music will be provided by Paul & Tina Bacigalupi. The inurment will take place in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society