Charles Austin Obituary

Obituary of Charles Austin
Charles Austin was born May 17, 1941 in Sioux City Iowa to Carrie and Wilbor Austin, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on July 10,2025. He was a 1959 graduate of East high school in Sioux City and a 1963 graduate of Midland College in Fremont, Nebraska. On August 17, 1963 he married Janet Jean Singer, also of Sioux City, Iowa. They had two children, Adam Austin of New Jersey and Glenda DeSchepper of Minnesota. Charles attended the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, graduating in 1967, when he was ordained pastor in the Lutheran Church in America, he was called to St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Dubuque, Iowa. In Dubuque, he earned another theology degree from Aquinas Institute, a Dominican seminary of the Roman Catholic Church. Also trained as a journalist, Charles became a reporter, writer, and editor with Religion News Service in New York City. He was later assistant director of the news service for the Lutheran Council in the USA. For a three-year term, Charles was English editor for the Lutheran World Federation headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. While in Switzerland he and his family traveled all around Europe in a pop up camper pulled by a VW Bus.From 1984 to 1987, he was director of news for the Lutheran Church in America. Charles has also been a reporter for The Record of Hackensack, New Jersey, religion reporter for The New York Times, was a writer and editor for Hearst News Service, and taught creative writing at New Jersey's William Paterson University. Because of his reporting he had the privilege of meeting two Popes in his lifetime. In parish ministry, Charles has served churches in New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota. Charles's freelance writings have appeared in many newspapers, magazines, and theological journals. He has written three small books, "Desktop Publishing for Churches," "Let The People Know, A Media Guide for Churches," and "You Can Build a Sand Castle: A Simple Guide to Fun At the Beach." Charles was an adamant builder of sandcastles. If there was a beach, water, pail, shovel or a simple butter knife, he would build. Often pulling on memories of all of the great castles he visited in Europe and elsewhere in the world. He taught his children and grandchildren about building a castle. His favorite place will always be the Jersey Shore. Charles and his wife Janet are strolling those beaches together again.
Charles is survived by his brother John (Sue) Swanson, son Adam Austin, daughter Glenda (Todd) DeSchepper, grandchildren, Austin and Isabell DeSchepper, his three nieces, Nikki, Brenda, and Terri. And many other family and friends that knew him and loved him. Please send a memorial in his name to Lutheran Social Services and Global Refuge. Funeral: July 28th, 2025, 1pm at St. Barnabas Lutheran Church, 15600 Old Rockford Rd, Minneapolis, MN 55446