Maynard J. Root, 91, of Austin, Minnesota, died Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, at Comforcare Good Samaritan Society in Austin.

Maynard James Root was born March 26, 1925, in Pleasant Valley Township, Mower County, Minnesota, the son of Melvin and Helen (Johnson) Root. Maynard graduated from Spring Valley (Minnesota) High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He married Phyllis Nash on Dec. 27, 1946, in Spring Valley. They moved to Austin where Maynard was a longtime employee of Austin Utilities, working as a stationary engineer.

Maynard was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and a member of the Austin Moose Club where he served as governor for a number of years. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, hunting and working on the farm with his son-in-law. Maynard and Phyllis enjoyed traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren.

Maynard is survived by his children and their spouses, Dennis and Judy Root, Stockton, Minnesota, Diane and James Rogne, Austin, Janelle and Steve Solberg, Nisswa, Minnesota, and Timothy and Linda Root, Creston, Iowa; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sister, Ilene Churchill, Ostrander, Minnesota; brothers and sisters-in-law: Merton and Marlene Root, Ostrander, Allen and Betty Root, Rochester, Minnesota, Roger and Kathy Root, Wabasha, Minnesota, Glendora Root, Burnsville, Minnesota, Dolores Root, St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Phyllis; son, Jamie; sisters, Ruth and Joyce; and brothers, Clare, Westly, Gene and Warren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church with the Rev. Karen Behling officiating. Interment will be at Grandview Cemetery with Austin Post 91 American Legion and Olaf B. Damm, Post 1216 Veterans of Foreign Wars in charge of military rites. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary and at the church on Saturday for one hour before the service. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church building fund.