Lewis J. Aase, 93

Lewis Junior Aase, age 93, of Austin, Minnesota, finished his race of faith and entered into his heavenly rest on December 7, 2024 at South Grove Lodge in Austin, surrounded by his family.

Lewis was born January 16, 1931, the son of Lewis and Annie (Priefert Baker) Aase of rural Mondovi, Wisconsin. His father’s first wife had died of tuberculosis and his mother’s first husband was killed in a car crash, leaving each of them alone with two daughters, and Lewis Junior was their only son. Lewis was baptized at West Bennett Valley Lutheran Church and graduated from Gilmanton High School in 1949, after which he helped his father run their dairy farm. He was married to LaVonne Teigen of Lake Mills, Iowa in 1959 and returned to school, graduating from Winona State University to become an elementary teacher. Lewis and LaVonne welcomed their first son, Lee, in Jackson, Minnesota, where Lewis started his career in education. The family moved to Austin in 1964, where son Mark was born in 1965.

Lewis was an elementary school principal in Austin, eventually serving in every elementary school except Sumner. He delighted in recounting stories about his experiences with many fine and dedicated teachers and the children they served together. His constant question – “What’s best for kids?” – led him to pursue innovations including having older students tutor younger ones in reading and an ungraded primary experiment to give kids more time to learn without the stigma of being “held back.” In 1989 he co-founded the Math Masters competition, which has grown to serve more than 5,500 students each year at dozens of sites throughout Minnesota and in surrounding states.

After his 1992 retirement Lewis got even busier, as he served a term on the Austin School Board and volunteered with LaVonne with the Mower County Republicans and to promote Math Masters expansion. Lewis enjoyed gardening and fix-it projects and delighted in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and being involved in their lives, and in good-natured practical jokes. Even in his 90s he was passionately advocating long-term reform proposals to benefit children and society, the fruits of which he knew he would not live to see.

Lewis was a faithful Christian who actively supported his church, Bethlehem Free Methodist, and various parachurch ministries and missionaries. He met weekly for more than 50 years with a group called Christian Businessmen’s Committee for fellowship and mutual encouragement. His earnest hope and prayer was that he would finish his race well. As he neared the end, he repeatedly reminded gathered family members how blessed he had been throughout his life, and that through faith in Jesus Christ he looked forward to a reunion with them in heaven.

Lewis was preceded in death by his parents and all four half-sisters. He is survived by his  wife, LaVonne, of Austin; two sons and their wonderful wives, Lee (Lisa) Aase and Mark (April) Aase of Austin; nine happily married grandchildren: Branden (Megan) O’Connor, Rachel (Kyle) Borg, Allyson (Ben) Klankowski, Jacob (Alexi) Aase, Rebekah (Andrew) Gatzemeyer, Ruthie (Tevin) Hoot, Tom (Stephanie) Aase, Joe (Amy) Aase, and John (Bella) Aase, as well as 27 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way.

A Funeral Service will be held at Crane Community Chapel in Austin on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Kyle Borg officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening from 5-8 p.m. at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary, and one hour before the service at the church. A luncheon will be served following the service, with an opportunity for family and friends to share memories of Lewis. Interment will be at Grandview Cemetery.

Arrangements by Clasen-Jordan Mortuary