Jane A. (Denger) Austgen

Jane Austgen nee Denger, 90, passed away on September 6, 2024. Born September 16, 1933 in Chicago, she graduated from Bishop Noll High School in 1951. 

After working at Inland Steel for about 13 years as a secretary in the bar mill, Jane retired to raise her growing family. Jane was a frequent volunteer at St. Michael School and Church in Schererville cooking at the church festival, spring buffet and funeral dinners, counting the offertory money, serving as officer in the Altar and Rosary Society, cleaning the church on Saturdays, coaching CYO basketball and, given her passion for  reading, helping to bring a library to St. Michael School.  She acted as a volunteer librarian there for nearly 20 years. Jane also had an artistic side and used her talents to make brochures and decorations for church projects while also writing poetry and drawing. 

After the death of her husband, Roy Austgen, Jane moved to Munster and lived at Hartsfield Village for 24 years where she was a member of the choir and volunteered in the gift shop.  She loved traveling with the other residents as well as on personal trips abroad and in the US. She was known for her ongoing pursuit of good, clean fun. Her bowling friends enjoyed her exclamation, “Aardvark!”, when she was frustrated.  The Hartsfield residents were always entertained by her animated talking/singing characters on the shelf outside her door. 

Jane is survived by her three children: Theresa Austgen (John Lucich), Veronica Austgen (Sonny Stahl) and Marjie Gruszka. She was a proud grandmother to six grandchildren: Anastasia Lucich (Adam Moss), Elizabeth Lucich (Daniel Perron), Sarah Tobias, Zachary (Brooke) Preim-Tobias, Amanda Gruszka, Allison Gruszka.  She had a great-granddaughter Penelope Perron, a step-granddaughter Shelby Stahl (Cameron Rollins) and step-great grandchildren Blakelynn Stevens and Coltan Kaufman. 

Visitation will be on September 21 at 9 a.m. until Mass begins at 10 a.m. at St. Maria Goretti Church (500 Northgate Dr, Dyer, IN). Burial will be at St. Michael Church Cemetery (1 W Wilhelm St, Schererville, IN).  A luncheon will be held after the burial ceremony and include a slide show to celebrate Jane’s life.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Anastasia (Boecker) Denger, brothers Robert and Elroy (Bernard), sister Anastasia (Sis), and husband Roy Austgen.

In lieu of flowers, please leave a gift to St. Maria Goretti, The Salvation Army or for Masses.

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