Cleon Loretta Augustine

Cleon Loretta Augustine, age 82 of Le Mars, IA and formerly of Remsen, IA passed away on Tuesday, January 7, 2020. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, with Father William McCarthy officiating.  Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen.  Visitation with family present will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday.  There will be a parish rosary and a vigil prayer service at 5 p.m. all at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.  Visitation will resume 9:30 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home. 

The former Cleon Loretta Cullinan was born on August 7, 1937 at her country home seven miles west of Rock Valley, IA off of Hwy 18, the daughter of John and Loretta (Flanagan) Cullinan.  Cleon attended a small one room country grade school, where evidently the laws of nature do not exist. As she informed us all the time, she had to walk to school uphill both ways on her daily trip.  She kept warm at nights and during this unimaginable walk to school with heated rocks off the fireplace at the foot of her bed and in her pockets. She attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, while it was an all-girls college, where she earned her teacher’s degree. She had to sneak out her dorm at night with her college girlfriends to attend dances where she spotted a tall young man that captured her eye.  These two would dance the night away, and later….

She married the love of her life, Ralph Augustine, on June 4, 1957 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Rock Valley.  If you are looking, this was a Tuesday. As mom informed us, “we had to marry on Tuesday because Monday was laundry day”. They made their home in Remsen for one year, then moved to Le Mars until 1966. Ralph’s job relocated them to Cherokee, Iowa and lived there for several years prior to moving back to Le Mars in 1973.  Upon retirement they moved to Remsen, where Cleon lived until she moved back to Le Mars in 2009 to be close to her children and grandchildren after Ralph passed away. Their life together was spent devoted to raising and teaching their children. What was lacking in monetary items was more than replaced with the love Cleon and Ralph provided their children. Cleon had what is best described as a mythical finger. Once pointed at you, the recipient was bound by her words that followed. 

Cleon spent her life caring and supporting her family.  She was a teacher at St. Mary’s school in Remsen and at Immaculate Conception school in Cherokee.  She later worked for Lane Moore Lumber Yard in Cherokee. Cleon spent the majority of her time working at Ben Franklin in Le Mars until it closed.  In the 1980s Cleon and Ralph were proud to own Augie’s Lounge where they met friends that lasted a lifetime. Cleon then worked at Remsen Apparel prior to retiring. Upon retirement she enjoyed working as a volunteer for the Floyd Valley Clinic where her desire to stay busy, be active, and helping others continued to drive her.

She loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Cleon was known to always have cookies freshly made and ready for anyone who would come over to visit her.  Attending her children’s and grandchildren’s activities were a large point of pride for her.  Cleon was thrilled to attend the Little League World Series, where she had a grandchild playing in it.  She traveled near and far to attend all her grandchildren’s events.  Cleon also loved to socialize.  She could always be found at the Golden Pheasant enjoying great conversations and meeting new and old friends.  Christmas was her favorite holiday, with her house decorated from head to toe. She lived her life a devout catholic and her faith carried her through to her last breath.

Cleon will be lovingly remembered by her family; she had four sons and two daughters. David (Nancy) Augustine, Steve (Jan) Augustine, Lori (Tom) Ortmann all of Le Mars.  Larry (Crystal) Augustine of Urbandale, IA, Tim (Lori) Augustine and Michelle (Taage) Foreman all of Le Mars; 21 grandchildren; Chris (fiancé Courtney) Augustine, Erin (Greg) Laney, Corey (Sheila) Augustine, Eric (Jodi) Augustine, Brent Augustine, Jared (Laura) Augustine, Jennifer (Michael) Brewer, Beau (special friend Jessica) Ortmann, Heather Ortmann, Heidi Ortmann, Cody Ortmann, Jordan (Molly) Augustine, Logan Augustine, Alex Augustine, Jamey (Julie) Nelson, Deyton Augustine, Riley Augustine, Siarah Augustine, Cassie (Joshua) Jacobsen, Harley Foreman, Raine Foreman, 28 great-grandchildren; one sister, Barb (Andy) DeJager of Yankton, SD; brothers-in-laws: Wayne (Kathy) Augustine and Tom Augustine all of Remsen, Dick (Nancy) Augustine, Dan (Mary) Augustine of Dakota Dunes, SD, Mike (Janet) Augustine of Sioux City, IA, and Dale Mousel of Alton, IA; three sister-in-laws: Kay Augustine of Remsen, Dode Konz of Alton, IA, and Jo Augustine of Estherville, IA; several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Loretta Cullinan, her husband, and a sister Mary (Dale) Hague, one great-grandchild, Charley Jo Brewer, mother and father-in-law, Joe and Alvina Augustine; two sisters-in-law, Clarice Mousel and Sandy Augustine; four brothers-in-law, Msgr. Roger Augustine, Jerry Augustine, Bill (Roberta) Augustine and  Pete Konz; two nieces, Lisa and Denise DeJager, and a nephew Patrick Hague.

Casket bearers will be Chris Augustine, Deyton Augustine, Jared Augustine, Cody Ortmann, Alex Augustine, and Harley Foreman.