from The LeMars Sentinel (November 10, 2003)

Alvina Julia Augustine, 93, of Remsen, died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2003, at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen.

The former Alvina Julia Schilmoeller was born April 12, 1910, at rural Granville, the daughter of Herman and Elizabeth (Meis) Schilmoeller. Alvina was raised in the Granville area and received her education at St. Joseph's
Catholic School in Granville.

On Nov. 26, 1929, she married Joseph W. Augustine at Granville. They farmed near Geddes, S.D., until 1941 when they moved to a farm near Remsen where they continued farming until 1964 when they moved into Remsen. While living in Remsen, Alvina was a cook with the hot lunch program in St. Mary's School in Remsen. Joseph died Nov. 13, 1991. She had been a resident of Happy Siesta since May 1998.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of America, and Christian Mothers, now St. Mary's Guild of which she had served as a past president. She loved baking, especially bread and rolls, crocheting, crossword puzzles, golfing, playing cards and was an avid Cubs fan.

Survivors include two daughters and their husbands, Clarice and Dale Mousel and Delores and Pete Konz all of Alton; nine sons, Jerry and his wife Kay, Ralph and his wife Cleon, Tom and his wife Sandy, Wayne and his wife Kathy, all of Remsen, Msgr. Roger J. of Moville, Bill and his wife Jo of Estherville, Dick and his wife Nancy, Dan and his wife Mary, and Mike and his wife Janet, all of Sioux City; 42 grandchildren; 63 greatgrandchildren; one greatgreat-grandson; one brother, Emil Schilmoeller of Remsen; one sister-in-law, Marie and her husband, Wayne Olsen of Madison, Wis.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two daughters, Alvina and Lois both in infancy; a daughter-in-law, Roberta Augustine; one great-grandson, Luke Mehrer in infancy; four brothers, Julius, Albin, Raymond and Alphonse Schilmoeller; and five sisters, Elizabeth Degen, Henrietta Recker, Mathilda Alesch, Agnes Bunt and Josephine Gentrup.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Remsen.

Celebrant will be her son, Msgr. Roger J. Augustine. Concelebrants will be her nephew, the Rev. Jerome Degen and the Rev. Timothy Johnson with Bishop Lawrence D. Soens and other priests of the diocese in attendance. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Remsen.