Carl Aus

Carl Aus, loving father, grandfather, husband, and brother was born in 1935 to Sylvester and Harriet (Min) Aus in Stillwater, Minnesota, the older of two children. The family moved to Wheaton in 1944 where Carl attended school and graduated in 1953. He attended college at Moorhead State where he studied social studies and played football, but ultimately went to Dunwoody Baking Institute and moved back to Wheaton to bake with his father. He married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Carlson, February 26th of 1955. They welcomed their first of nine children 2 years later.When Carl decided he was ready for a bakery of his own, He and Nancy found an opportunity in the beautiful town of Granite Falls. Here Carl and Nancy raised their large family in the country. They operated a game farm, raised POA ponies, and many other animals. Besides a passion and devotion for career and family, Carl was an avid horse breeder, hunter, outdoors-man, and storyteller. After retiring from the baking business, Carl drove the city's Heartland Express for more than 20 years. He was a member of the Granite Falls Fire Department for 22 years and the Knights of Columbus. He was the director of the Minnesota High School Rodeo Association and Pony of the America's Club. He was inducted into the Pony of America and Minnesota Baker's Hall of Fame.Carl was an inspiration, showing all of those living with cancer that life can be lived to the fullest to the very end. He took a four-wheeler trip, attended a horse show, and was the guest of honor at a special celebration of life in his last three weeks. Carl passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Monday morning, August 23, 2010, at the age of 74.He is survived by his beloved wife Nancy; children: Mike (Gail), Tom (Laurie), Kathy (Brian) Nokleby, Kris (Rick) Sand, John (Rae Ann), Jim, and Sara (Jeremy) Jennen; son-in-law Todd Hammer; grandchildren Jason (Rachel), Seth (Deena), Emily, Rachel, Leigh, Jonathan, Kayla, Kevin, Wyatt, Breanna, Tanner, Michael, Brittany, Landon, Holdyn, Zachary, Danielle, Braelee, Chyanne, Chase, Skyler, Nicholas, Collin, and Elisa; three great grandchildren; one sister Dixie (Bob) Labat; sister-in-law Audrey Carlson and several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by son Daniel, daughter Susan, parents Min and Sylvester, mother and father-in-law Hazel and Bill Carlson, three nephews Paul, Timothy, and Patrick, and numerous aunts, uncles, and extended family.