Austin F. Shute, At Your Service.

We hope you enjoy your visit to the official web portal celebrating the life of
a man that lived a very rich and celebrated life.

Please add a comment or forward suggestions for additions to Austin's site.

He was a very loved and revered man with his family, friends and colleagues.

Austin will sorely be missed.

Please check back often because there is much more that is going to be added to
Austin's dedicated web portal over the coming months. A lot of new and very
interesting things have been unearthed that add to the allure of Austin's life.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your visit.

Austin's Final Interview - January 26, 2008
Click Here for Audio / Click Here for Audio & Picture Slideshow
 

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June 2010
Austin is mentioned in the KC Mob History Film,
"Black Hand Strawman"
 

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May 19, 2010 - A New Letter to Austin from Rosie

This note is from Rose Trujillo (formerly Burnett). I recently heard of your loss and wanted to express my heartfelt sympathy to Judy, Carrie, Shannon and other family members. I remember Austin to be a kind, creative, humorous, and fair man who truly was his brother’s keeper regardless of status, color, or gender. I believe Austin was one rare individual who genuinely cared about his fellow human beings.

When I picture Austin, I see him with an ornery little grin and with his dear wife Judy and his little girls, Carrie and Shannon. Austin made a good and loving life for those he loved and it showed in his beautiful daughters. I remember one story that he told me, his neighbor of long ago. He described how he purchased his house in Birchwood and said that the deal was struck based on a handshake. I never forgot this story as to me it spoke of a man who sought the best in other people and believed in honor.

To Austin’s family; I am so very sorry for your loss but if there is ever a life that can be celebrated, it is surely Austin’s. You and yours are in my prayers.

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Austin's Ashes in the Irish Sea
July 2009 - By Judy Shute

On my recent journey to Ireland for a conference/holiday, I decided to take some of Austin’s ashes and sprinkle them into the Irish Sea. In the 38 years we were married I heard so much about his ancestors from Ireland and thought he would like this idea. I put some into a zip lock bag and off we went. Before I left, however, our oldest daughter, Carrie, asked me to please put something of hers in with the ashes, because she said “she didn’t want daddy to be lonely”! So I took a picture of her and Austin from Bandelier National Park in Santa Fe, N.M., trimmed it down and put it in with the ashes. I made this trip with two good friends with whom I work in the Special Religious Education for the Developmentally Disabled (SPRED) – Sam and Karen. Our retreat house in Larne, Northern Ireland was just a block from the Irish Sea, but I didn’t like the area. It was rocky and murky looking. After the conference we set off on our week’s holiday through Ireland.

Sam was ever on the outlook for the perfect spot. Every morning as we got into the car, either Sam or Karen would say, “Do you have Austin?”, and I would say, “Yes. Do you have the camera?” I had promised my son in law, Joe, that I would take a picture of where we sprinkled the ashes. After a couple of days of this routine, I started to feel like we were in the movie “Weekend with Bernie”. It seemed every time we found a place, I either didn’t think it was good enough, or I could not get down to the water because of rocks, cliffs, etc.

Then it just happened. We were outside Donegal, Ireland and Sam saw this small sign that said “To Beach”. The dirt/gravel road was just one lane and we traveled on it for about 2 miles before we came to a bluff and a small pathway to the most incredibly beautiful beach I think I have ever seen. The water swirled around the large rocks and it was very serene. I made my way down to the beach and waded up to my knees in the swirling water and there I left part of Austin, along with his and Carrie’s picture. Sam and Karen gave me all the time and space I needed and had Kleenex and hugs waiting for me. It was a glorious day!

Later in the day Sam went on line to see if we could find out where exactly the beach was, and he found we were at Dooey Beach.
 

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*Thanks to Everyone for their Kindness*

The funeral and wake for Austin Shute, on Tuesday, February 5, 2008
at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, was a success and a sincere tribute
to a fine man. Austin would have been proud ..

Click here to watch a video of the funeral and wake.

February 14, 2008 - Click here to read a farewell tribute to Austin
in the Kansas City Star.