Lincoln “Abe” Harold Cole, died Saturday afternoon, Sept. 6, 2014, surrounded by his family at his home in Austin.

He was born Feb. 12, 1931, in Austin, Minnesota, the son of Harold and Martha (Larson) Cole. He attended school in Austin and Elkton, Minnesota. Abe served with the United States Army from 1949 to 1950. Following his discharge, he returned to Austin where he married Darlene Birk in 1951. The couple raised five children. Abe was a foreman for Austin Payless Cashways Lumber Store, later UBC Lumber Store, where he worked for thirty seven years, retiring in 1987. Darlene died in 1985. Lincoln married Donna (Tuinder) Stark on Oct.18, 1986, in Austin. He loved to fish, especially in Canada, enjoyed hunting deer and pheasants, snowmobiling, waterskiing, golfing, camping, biking and riding his motorcycle. Abe spent 16 winters in Arizona, where he rode his bike more than 900 miles. He was a longtime member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife: Donna Cole of Austin; five children: JeanAnn (Charles) Peterson of Faribault, Lonnie Wagner of Owatonna, Lincoln R. (Beth) Cole of Alden, Karen MacIntosh of Lansing, and Cindy (Vander) Hallmark of Lampasas, Texas; three step-children: Don (Sandra) Stark of Burlington, Vermont, Debra (Randy) Berg of Austin, and Dale (Jenn Haan) Stark of Austin; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; two sisters: Ivadene (Jim) Jones of Loveland, Colorado, Lindy (Speed) Matthew of Dexter; a brother: Larry (Mary) Cole of Austin; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Darlene; brother, Merlin; son-in-law, Doug MacIntosh, and a step grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Theodore W. Barthels, officiating. Interment will follow the service in Grandview Cemetery with Military Honors by American Legion Post No. 91 of Austin.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin.  Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.