Wilbur Ervin Mittag, 94, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on June 17, 2016, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home after a short illness.

Wilbur was born June 13, 1922, in Freeborn County to Walter and Olga (Lau) Mittag. Walter was deceased prior to Wilbur’s birth. His mother married Robert Broitzman when he was 2 years old and he became Robert’s stepson. Wilbur attended country school through eighth grade. On Dec. 28, 1943, he married Evelyn Yaste at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle, Minnesota. They started their lives together on a farm near Myrtle where their first son was born. Seven years later they bought a farm near Lyle, Minnesota, where they lived for 22 years and where their daughter and a second son were born. Austin has been home for the last 42 years.

Wilbur was a skilled carpenter and a creative handyman and tinkerer. He especially enjoyed keeping a beautiful lawn and sharing his woodworking talents with friends and family.

Wilbur was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where he served as an usher and contributed his wood working talent in several areas of the church. He enjoyed volunteering at Mayo Medical Center and the American Red Cross blood bank where he was a faithful donor.

Survivors include his children, Bob (Cindy) Mittag of Beavercreek, OH, Becky (Ronnie) Pitzen of Stacyville, IA and Rod (Sarah) Mittag of San Francisco, CA; grandchildren, Jennifer Wilcox, Laura (Brandon) Smith, Brian (Jessica) Pitzen, Michael (Katie) Pitzen, Kevin (Mandy) Pitzen, Eric (Jamie) Pitzen, Cooper and Maisie Mittag and nine great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, step father, wife Evelyn, two brothers, Luverne and Gaylen, and sister Luetta Wolff.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2016, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with the Reverend Karen Behling officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. and at the church on Thursday for one hour before the service.