WRIGHT, Austin James

Austin James Wright, 85 years of age from Hildreth, Nebraska died on September 9, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Austin was born on November 22, 1925 in Hildreth to Joseph and Pauline (Cox) Wright. He grew up in the Hildreth area and graduated from Hildreth High School. In 1943 he joined the U.S. Navy. He served from 1943 until 1946. After serving in the Navy he moved to California and worked for Lockheed Aircraft for ten years. In 1951 he married Sharon McCausland. In 1960 he moved to Iowa where he managed a brokerage firm. In 1971 he married Angeline (Frerichs) Schwartz and brought his family to Hildreth. Austin farmed and worked for Schwartz Brothers Implement and later worked for Holdrege Monuments. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hildreth and the Veteran's of Foreign Wars. He was an avid hunter and gun collector. Survivors include his wife, Angeline of Hildreth; two daughters, Cindy Velarde and her husband, Reyes of Arvada, CO and Jan Fruhling and her husband, Jim of Kearney; two sons, Austin Wright Jr. and Nathan Wright both of Denver; step daughter, Kay Vonderschmidt and her husband, Rick of Lincoln; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by two sisters. Memorial services will be on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hildreth with Revs. Steve and Patti Byrne officiating. There will be no visitation. Jelden-Craig Funeral Home of Hildreth is in charge of arrangements