George M. Augustine

George M. Augustine Athol – George M. “Uncle George” Augustine, 97, died Thursday, April 16, 2015 at the Charlene Manor Extended Care Facility in Greenfield.      George was born in Orange, MA, August 16, 1917, the son of Joseph and Josephine (Rasinski) Augustine.  He grew up in Orange, graduating from Orange High School in 1935 and since the 1970’s has lived in Athol.  George served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a heavy machine gunner, serving in Rhineland and Central Europe combat battalion. He worked at many shops and factories in the area and for the L.S. Starrett Company for many years as a trucker until he retired.      George was the last man in the WW II, Last Man’s Club of the Orange American Legion Post 172, life member of the Wheelerville Club, and the American Naturalization Lithuanian Club.  He enjoyed walking and hiking downtown Athol, walking many miles in the Quabbin, walking every gate in the Quabbin.   George knew all about mushrooms, enjoyed picking hundreds of quarts of berries, reading, gardening, hunting, fishing, especially fishing with his brother “Luddy” at Barton Cove, ice fishing, playing cards, was a lifelong Red Sox fan and going out to eat with his extended family.  George spoke four languages, was an avid history buff on U.S. presidents and World War II.      He leaves a sister-in-law Geraldine Augustine and her companion John Shanbeck of Swanzey, NH; nieces and nephews, Joseph Letourneau and his wife Judy of AZ, Anna (Letourneau) Upshaw and her husband Arthur of FL, Gloria (Letourneau) Laffond and her husband Roger of Athol, Janet (Letourneau) Mann and her companion Eugene Parmenter of Baldwinville, John Letourneau of Athol, Roger Augustine and his wife Kathy of Gill, Jerel Augustine and his wife Rosie of the Philippines,  Cheryl (Augustine) Wills and her husband Tracy and Rey Augustine and his wife Beruda of Deerfield.  He also leaves grand nieces and nephews who thought of him as their grandfather, Emily Laffond, Abbey Pantani, Troy Laffond, Dionne Dunham, Tom Mann, Eric Mann and Casey Mann and many other grand nieces and nephews; 29 great-grand nieces and nephews and two great great-grand nieces. He was predeceased by a sisterm Julie and three brothers, Ludwig, John and Joseph.      Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 10:30 A.M. at Higgins-O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main St., Athol with the Rev. Fr. Francis Roberge, pastor of St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church of Baldwinville officiating.  Burial with military honors will follow at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon. Calling hours will be held Wednesday, April 22, 2015 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. and Thursday, April 23rd from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the service.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions in George’s name be  made to the Orange American Legion Post # 172, P.O. Box 172, Orange, MA  01364.  For further information or to share a memory with the family go to: www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com.      $(document).ready(function(){ });