ALSTEAD CENTER — Austin Edmond “Audie” Strout, 87, died at his home in Alstead Center on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. He was born in Unity on Sept. 1, 1931, the fourth son born to Perley Strout and Mary Olive (Donovan) Strout.
During World War II when his father and older siblings went to Maine to help the war effort, Austin stayed and managed the family farm. He was only about 11 or 12 years old. While in high school, he enjoyed helping his older brother Clyde at the Claremont Speedway as part of the pit crew.
He graduated from Stevens High School in Claremont and went immediately into the Army, serving in Germany. One highlight of the life experience was teaching soldiers how to ski. He earned marksmanship medals and continued to participate in target shooting sports.
Following his service to his country, he returned home and traveled with his older brother Herbert to Keene daily to work as a machinist. He retired in 1995 with over 30 years employed with Kingsbury Machine Tool Company.
In 1956, he married Virginia Gilchrest. They were married for over 55 years before Ginny passed in 2011.
Audie and Ginny loved square dancing and used to have friends in their upper barn to work with a new caller on Friday nights. Audie kept a couple milk cows below. His enjoyment of dancing never waned. Early in their marriage a few foster kids were in the family, too. Audie helped with the 4-H woodworking projects with local youth. He also managed a tree farm across the road and on a parcel of inherited property in Unity. He cut 16 cords of wood each summer to heat the house at the top of the hill in Alstead Center.
As retirement approached, the couple decided to design an earth-berm dwelling to reduce that need for so much firewood. They loved Alstead Center too much to “get off the hill” so they located their newer house just down the road. Audie harvested trees and cut boards with his portable sawmill to finish the home. He continued to enjoy maintaining the surrounding forest and gardens, and found particular challenge trying to grow decent fruit and berries in his home orchard.
St. Paul’s Lodge #30 in Alstead, a Masonic organization, was a large part of Audie’s life. He served many roles in the Alstead Lodge and didn’t miss putting up the tent for the chicken barbecue.
The VA Outpatient Clinic in Keene, Fall Mountain Friendly Meals in Alstead and Syrene Porter’s in-home health care allowed Audie to stay at home as his dementia progressed. His spirits were up and he even danced the day that Bayada Hospice entered the picture. Audie was a gentle, quiet man with a cheerful sense of humor. He enjoyed selecting and sending birthday cards to others. He was a great husband, father and uncle. He made a difference in his corner of the world.
He leaves a daughter, Wanda Whittemore of New Hampshire and a son, Glenn Strout and his wife Petra of California; he is also survived by a sister, Phebe Galpin, and brother, Perley Strout, both of New Hampshire. He was predeceased by three brothers and three sisters: Carroll Strout, Charlotte Strout, Clyde Strout, Hildred Galipeau, Herbert Strout and Helene Craite.
A memorial service to celebrate Audie’s life will be held in spring 2019. Davis Memorial Chapel of Springfield, Vermont is assisting the family with arrangements.
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