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Jeffrey B. “Jeff” Austing

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Jeffrey B. “Jeff” Austing, age 64 of Freeport, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family from complications of a spontaneous brain bleed on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, January 12 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa with Rev. Daniel Walz officiating. A private inurnment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery at a later date.
Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Monday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa.
Jeffrey Bernard Austing was born November 4, 1961 in Melrose, Minnesota to Richard and Dorothy (Finken) Austing. He was united in marriage to Rose Butkowski on March 23, 2001 in Long Prairie, Minnesota. Jeff worked as a union bricklayer and mason for over 20 years but most recently worked at Felling Trailers in Sauk Centre and Ramler Cold Storage in Albany.
He was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa and the Lions Club. Jeff was a family man who was proud of his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing, tinkering in the garage, feeding the birds, loved his cat, Ruby, and loved visiting with family and friends.
Survivors include his loving wife of 24 years, Rose Austing of Freeport; children, Jordan (Angie) Meyer of Sauk Rapids, Jerome (Kayla) Meyer of Wadena, Brenan (Brianna) Austing of Trego, Wisconsin, and Lydia (Jared) Eickhoff of Arvada, Colorado; grandchildren, Isabella, Roman, Scarlett, and one on the way, Brynnley, Desmond, Ainsley, and Charley; mother, Dorothy Austing of Freeport; brothers and sisters, Sandy (Floyd) Sand of Freeport, Joyce Traczyk of Shoreview, Brenda (Suds) Salzmann of Avon, Dan Austing of Freeport, and Dick (Jane) Austing of St. Rosa; and many loving relatives and friends.
Jeff was preceded in death by his father, Richard Austing; granddaughter, Berkley Dee Austing; and sister-in-law, Lori Austing on October 21, 2025.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral & Cremation Services of Melrose.