William "Dan" Daniel Austin

William Dan Daniel Austin, 86 of Grand Island entered his heavenly home on Friday, June 6, 2014 at Golden Living Center Lakeview in Grand Island with his family by his side.

Services will be 11:00 A.M. Thursday June 12, 2014 at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. Chaplain Bill Forbes will be officiating. Interment will be in the Sumner Cemetery in Sumner, Nebraska.

Visitation will be 1 hour prior to services on Thursday and a sandwich luncheon will be held afterwards at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to a Veterans Organization of the Family's Choice in lieu of flowers.

Dan was born on April 18, 1928 on the family farm near Sumner, Nebraska to Horace and Alice (Clouse) Austin. At a very young age, his parents divorced and he and his younger brother were forced to live with three of his paternal aunts in Kearney, NE. where he attended school. At age 18 he entered the U.S. Army/Air Force, serving from 1946-1971 earning several medals and commendations. During his enlistment, he was sent to other countries; Korea, Vietnam, Australia, and Japan. He stated that while in Japan, he fell in love with their culture and many times called it his second home.

He was united in marriage to Beverly "Jean" Van Horn on September 29, 1956 in Hastings, Nebraska. From that union, 3 children were born. They spent most of their married life traveling with various military assignments.

After his retirement from the military in 1971, he held various jobs in Kearney, NE., including managing the Pester/Coastal gas station on the corner of 25th and Central Ave. from 1981-1988. He made many friends with his customers while employed there.

He had a passion for music and played various musical instruments. He started the "Sons of the Oregon Trail" band in the 1950s with some of his friends. He enjoyed private flying and flying his PT-19 airplane while working at his brother in laws airport in California in the 1940s. Later in life, he enjoyed attending Air Shows, treasure hunting, model air planes, amateur radio operating, cookouts, and vegetable gardening. His greatest enjoyment in life, however, was being with his family and he was readily available at any time of need. He had a great sense of humor and was always quick with a joke. He thoroughly enjoyed traveling to various museums around Nebraska, learning the history of his home state. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, AARP, and the Amateur Radio Operators.

Survivors include his former wife and longtime friend, Beverly "Jean" Wood of Grand Island; son, Daniel Austin of Omaha; daughters, Debra Austin and Cindy and Bob Bennett, both of Grand Island; 4 grandchildren: Brad and Angela Bennett of Grand Island, Jon Bennett of Grand Island, Shannon Wabashaw of Omaha, and Kathleen and Nalin Majerus of Grand Island; great-grandchildren, Emily, Shelby, Cyler, Rodney, Allison, and Madelyn.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, step-father; Frank Niles, 2 infant brothers; Clarence and Duane, brother, Lee Roy Austin, sisters, Helen Austin, Doris Scollan, and Eileen Waite.