Austin Bagby

Austin W. Bagby, 91, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, at his home.

He was born June 8, 1923, in Villa Ridge, Illinois, to Richard M. and Flora I. Essex Bagby. He and Josie Viola Ervin were married July 26, 1946, in Villa Ridge.

Austin was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, serving honorably from March 2, 1943, to Jan. 1, 1946. He was proud and honored to be a member of the 6th Battalion from 1943 to 1946. His unit was among the first to land in the Philippines, and later he was part of the occupational forces in Kyoto, Japan. The 6th Rangers and Alamo Scouts performed the raid on POW Camp Cabanatuan on Jan. 30, 1945, which liberated more than 500 allied prisoners of war. The story of this liberation was the basis of the film "The Great Raid".

The Bagbys raised their family in Villa Ridge and Aurora, Illinois. Austin farmed many years near Villa Ridge, and later was a machinist 30 years for Seal Master Bearings. They were members of the former Nazarene Church in Aurora.

They moved to Cape Girardeau in 1986 and became active members of the Nazarene Church. In 2003 they moved to Jackson and became members of First Church of the Nazarene, where Austin formerly served on the church board and was instrumental in construction of the new sanctuary in west Jackson. He was also a member of Altenthal- Joerns American Legion Post 158 in Jackson and VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau.

As long as Austin's health allowed, he remained active. He especially enjoyed gardening and yard work. In earlier years he enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing and playing the guitar.

Loving survivors include his wife of 68 years, Josie of Jackson; four children, Warren (Cindy) Bagby of Jackson, Myra Elaine (Larry) Donoho of La Moille, Illinois, Ellen (Larry) Whitfield of Hinckley, Illinois, and Frances (Charles) Rieckert of Rice Lake, Wisconsin; a sister, Dorothy Points of Hutchinson, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Michael Bagby of Champaign, Illinois, Courtney (Ray) Holtz of DeKalb, Illinois, Merle (Missy) Donoho of Ohio, Illinois, Sherry Donoho of Washburn, Illinois, Dean (Sheryl) Whitfield of Hinckley, Matthew Whitfield of Plano, Illinois, and Adam (Heidi) Rieckert of Rice Lake; and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Charles "Chuckie" Rieckert Jr.; six siblings; and his parents.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. An American Legion Honor Guard service will be at 7:30 p.m.

The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Ken Harper, Bill Burke and Mike Poole officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau, with full military honors.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to First Church of the Nazarene in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.