George W. Moline, 84, Austin

Published 10:00 am Friday, April 26, 2013

Col. George W. Moline, 84, of Austin, Minn., died Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, Minn.

George Moline

George William Moline was born March 29, 1929, in Pepin, Wis., to Axel and Minnie (Christensen) Moline. He attended Pepin Schools and became a telegraph and teletype operator for the Milwaukee Railroad. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. George married Marie Milliren on June 13, 1953.

After the war, he worked for American Motors. In 1964, George and Marie moved to Austin where George was a manager for the St. Paul Clothing House. In 1976, they purchased Moline Sports and Awards and in 1982, he became a real estate broker and auctioneer. He retired in February 2011.

George was very active in the Austin community. Throughout the years, he served as a member of the Austin Area Chamber of Commerce, St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Noon Lions Club, the Eagles, Austin Post No. 91 American Legion, Olaf B. Damm Post No. 1216 VFW, Fidelity Lodge No. 39 AF & AM, Eastern Star, Cedar Valley Conservation Club, Austin Board of Realtors and Minnesota Auctioneers Association. He was a charter member of the Mower County Posse and past president of the Mower County Fair Board. George helped others by his involvement in charity auctions throughout the area.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers Fred and Carl Moline.

George is survived by his wife Marie Moline, Austin; sons and daughter-in-law Charles and Mary Moline, Austin, Jeffrey Moline and partner Terrence Franklin, West Hollywood, Calif., and Steven Moline, Austin; grandchildren, Stephanie (Tom) Grotbo, St. Bonifacius, Minn., Suzanne (Ryan) Schmidt, Austin, Elizabeth Moline, St. Louis Park, Minn.; great-grandchildren, Nathan and Olivia Schmidt and Jordyn and Nicholas Grotbo; nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 29 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with the Rev. William Odermann and the Rev. Dale Christiansen officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Pepin at a later date. Austin Post No. 91 American Legion and Olaf B. Damm Post No. 1216 VFW is in charge of military rites. Visitation will be on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary. Masonic Rites will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, conducted by Fidelity Lodge No. 39 AF & AM. Visitation will also be at the church for one hour before the service on Monday.

Casket bearers will be Gerry Guyette, Harold Denisen, Harold “Skip” Mayhew, Loren Rindels, Steve Aberg and Tom Morgan. Memorials are preferred to the donor’s choice.