David M. Austgen

DAVID M. AUSTGEN, passed away on Monday, January 27, 2014, in Missouri City, TX. Born in Hammond, IN, on March 13, 1934, Dave was a standout student and athlete at Bishop Knoll High School. He received a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1956, an institution and community that he cherished for the rest of his life. Following graduation, Dave served in the Air Force as a 1st Lieutenant. He met and married 1st Lieutenant and nurse Muriel Carol Watson while stationed at Castle Air Force Base in Merced, CA. After leaving the Air Force in 1959, Dave joined TRW in Los Angeles. In 1965, he moved the family to Houston, where he joined the TRW team working with NASA on the Apollo space program; he was very proud of the contributions he made to landing men on the moon. Dave and Muriel were founding members of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Nassau Bay and were very active in Parish life. In 1972, Dave joined MW Kellogg as a Project Manager working in the rapidly expanding petrochemicals industry. He came to be highly respected by his employees, his peers, and his clients for his leadership and integrity. He retired in 2000 to enjoy more of one of his great passions - golf.

Dave was very devoted to his family. He deeply mourned the death of his wife, Muriel, in 2002. He was a kind and loving father and gave unselfishly of his time and his experience. He leaves behind four children, their spouses, and 10 grandchildren: David and Teresa Austgen, Gabriela, Adriana, Daniel, and Cristina of Sugar Land, TX; Kathleen and Paul Quimby, Paul David, and Lily of Manassas, VA; Thomas and Cindy Austgen, Connor, Casey, and Kylie of Ponte Vedra, FL; and Michael Austgen and Isaiah of Clear Lake, TX.

Friends are invited to a visitation with the family from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, January 30, 2014, at The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land (Williams Trace Exit), with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, January 31, 2014, at St. Laurence Catholic Church, 3100 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land, with The Rev. Tom Hawxhurst, officiating. A reception will follow the service in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Dave’s memory be made to the National Parkinson Foundation @ www.parkinson.org.