He was an honor student in school in Susquehanna University when he enlisted in the Army. Augustus didn’t wait to be drafted as he was also very patriotic, as many boys were then. He enlisted in the Army in July 1942 and served until March 1946. He was a cryptographer instructor and started several schools in the USA. He was one of the first to receive news of D Day. He was discharged from Camp Crowder.
Augustus started summer school at Susquehanna University, graduating 3 years later. Following graduation, he went on to Gettysburg Seminary and graduated in 1951. He was ordained on May 27, 1951, in his home church Messiah Lutheran in South Williamsport.
Augustus’s first church was Faith Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, PA and he served there for 3 years. In 1952, he got engaged and was married to the love of his life Josephine in May 1953. In 1954, he received a call to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Nanticoke, PA and served there for 8 years. Two children were born there: Mark Alan in January 1956 and Diane Ellen in May 1961. In 1962, he received a call to New Jerusalem Lutheran Church. He served there for 28 years. His son Joel Andrew was born in 1964. In July 1973, he studied the New Testament in Oxford, England. Augustus retired in 1990. He then served as a visitation pastor for Trinity Quakertown, and St. Matthews, Perkasie, before moving to Luther Acres in Lititz, PA. He continued to preach and visit for many different Churches and was a member of St. Peters Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA.
Augustus and Josephine moved to Maricopa, AZ and were members of the Risen Savior Lutheran Church for 12 years, then moved to Lincoln, NE in 2020 and were members of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Augustus went home to the Lord on October 22, 2021, at the age of 97.
Family members include his wife Josephine; son Mark (Deb) Tietbohl; grandchildren Michael (Ana) Judd, Amy (Jon) Lieberman, Joshua (Kim) Geier, Laura Rasche, Lisa (Collin) Ross; great-grandchildren Zachary, Matteo, and Luna Judd, Richard Lieberman, Guiliana and Joseph Geier, Natalie, Roy, Ethan, and Donavan Rasche, Cannon, Shaylin, Tatum, and Nala Ross; sister Maryann (Robert) Hoover and family; sister-in-law Susan Tietbohl and family; and son-in-law Arden Geier. Preceded in death by his parents, brother Ralph, and children Joel Andrew and Diane Ellen.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church. No visitation. Burial will be held on Wednesday, October 27th at 2:00 p.m. at the Omaha National Cemetery.
Memorials in lieu of flowers to Trinity Lutheran Church.