Austin Bailey

Austin Bailey April 3, 1917 - March 23, 2009

Austin S. Bailey, age 91, of Faribault, died Monday, March 23, 2009 at the Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Faribault. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at the Church of Christ in Faribault with Pastor Garry Rosenau, officiating. Interment will be held at the Meadow Ridge Memorial Park, Faribault. Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Thursday for one hour prior to services. Austin Samuel Bailey, the son of Martin and Melissa (King) Bailey, was born on April 3, 1917 in Agra, Kansas. He graduated from Agra High School and attended Iowa State University for one year. During his schooling years, Austin farmed with his family in Phillipsburg, KS. Austin was an exceptional baseball player and in 1939 he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and pitched until 1941. On February 18, 1941 he was united in marriage to Marilyn Lexvold in Mason City, IA. After their marriage Austin played semi-pro baseball in Kansas and also during World War II worked in a factory in Omaha, NE building Bomber Airplanes. His baseball career ended in Kansas in 1954 when they moved to Faribault and Austin took a job with Marigold Dairies as a salesman and truck driver. He worked there for 20 years and later worked for a short time at Faribault Foods, retiring in 1979. Austin was an Elder at the Church of Christ for many years and was an active member. Austin enjoyed many activities during his life including, fishing trips with family and friends at Lake Winnibigosh, playing ping pong in different leagues in Faribault, wood carving, playing cards and spending time with all of his family. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marilyn Bailey of Faribault; by three children, Larry (Sue) Bailey of Duluth, MN, Allen Bailey of Faribault and Sally (Paul) Gray of Faribault; by 8 grandchildren, Michael Bailey, Patrick (Sheri) Bailey, Jason (Stephany) Kindseth, Heather (Aaron) Wutschke, Mandy (Matthew) Weeks, Jennifer (Brian) Holbein, Megan (Michael) Schenach and Matthew Bailey; by 9 great grandchildren, William Boxx, Zach Bailey, Zoe Bailey, Taylor Holbein, Jacob Weeks, Boone Kindseth, Raini Wutschke, Sloan Kindseth and Selena Schenach, and by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mildred Daley and Florence Jones.