Elmer Gordon Fossum, age 86 of Austin, died at Austin Medical Center Wednesday afternoon. He was born Sept. 26, 1924, to Oscar and Gina (Holton) Fossum in Hayfield, where he grew up and attended school. After graduating from high school, Elmer served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He married Lorraine Boelter on Sept. 30, 1944, in Hayfield. They moved to Austin in 1945 where they made their home.

Elmer was employed at Hormel. He was a faithful member of St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Austin. He was given grace to be a faithful Christian, a devoted husband and father and a loyal friend. Baptized into the family of God as an infant and preserved in the faith of Jesus Christ by Word and Sacrament, our loved one has been taken to heaven by his Savior. He was a humble Christian who regarded the Bible as God’s Word, infallible and inerrant from Genesis to Revelation. He was certain of gaining heaven, as he was sure that the blood of Jesus Christ covered his sins. Blessed be his memory and thanks be to God for all that He gave to us through the life of our father.

Survivors include two sons, Vance Fossum of Columbia, South Carolina; Randy Fossum of Albert Lea; a daughter, Vickie (James) Kauffman of Brownsdale; 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorraine; a son, Roger; daughters-in-law, Christine and Diana; his parents; a brother, Leonard Fossum; three sisters, Hazel Anderson, Myrtle Ausrud and Lorraine Sheedy.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, at Worlein Funeral Home Chapel in Austin with Pastor R.E. Wehrwein officiating. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment is at Fairview Cemetery, Hayfield.