Gaylen Laverne Lastine

Gaylen Lastine, age 92, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at South Grove Lodge in Austin. Gaylen was born on November 14, 1931, in Rose Creek, Minnesota to Orville and Rhoda (Anderson) Lastine. He graduated from Austin High School in 1950. In 1951, he entered the US Army and received his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. That same year on September 2, 1951, he married Phyllis Nagel at First Baptist Church in Austin, Minnesota. Gaylen was assigned to a food inspection unit in Chicago and was transferred in 1952 to Austin, Minnesota, where he inspected meat (including poultry) for the Army until his discharge in 1954. After his discharge from the Army, he secured a job at the Hormel Meat Packing Company in their sales training program on February 19, 1954. During 1956, he was transferred to the Lacrosse, Wisconsin territory and was a “route car salesman” in LaCrosse and surrounding territory. He was transferred to Austin, Minnesota in 1963 for 2 years, then transferred to Wausau, Wisconsin and from there to Green Bay, Wisconsin where he lived a few blocks from the Green Bay football stadium and was in his glory!! From Green Bay he was then transferred for the last time to Laurel, Maryland. He retired April 30, 1993, and moved to Austin, Minnesota where he enjoyed his family and retirement. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church and the Sons of Norway. In his retirement he did a lot of bowling, golfing, woodworking and traveled to numerous places. He and Phyllis went to England, France, Germany, Italy, and Norway. They also did an Alaskan cruise and a land and sea cruise to Hawaii.

Gaylen is survived by his three children, Bryce (Dolly) Lastine of Coon Rapids, MN, Cathy (Gary) Johnson of Albert Lea, MN, and Scott (Jean) Lastine of Edina, MN; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rhoda and Orville Lastine; wife, Phyllis; son, Tim; brothers, Wesley and Elmo Junior; and sisters, Opal, Vivian, Arlene, and Jurene. 

The family wants to give a special thank you to South Grove Lodge personnel and Moments Hospice for all their help and special care.

A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at Grace Baptist Church in Austin, Minnesota. The visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. Military honors by American Legion Post 91 and V.F.W. Post 1216. Interment will be in Six Mile Grove Cemetery in rural Lyle, Minnesota. Memorials are preferred to Alzheimer's Minnesota Society in memory of Phyllis. Services are prearranged and performed by Worlein-Hoff Funeral Home of Austin.