ELKHART -- Friends of Austin J. "Spike" Shank may call one hour prior to today's 10 a.m. funeral service at Hillcrest United Methodist Church. Pastor Davis Cross of Hillcrest will officiate with burial to follow at the New Paris Cemetery. Military graveside honors will be rendered by the Goshen Veteran's Honor Guard Services as well as the U.S. Military Funeral Honor Guard.

Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Shank, 86, of 55007 Second St., died at 6:45 p.m. Saturday (July 15, 2006) in Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born Sept. 6, 1919, in Nappanee to LeRoy and Macy (Bender) Shank. He married Esther L. Wakeman on Dec. 3, 1940, in Centreville. She preceded him in death in July of 1967. He married Dorothy Ann Mates on April 21, 1968, in Bristol. She preceded him in death in September of 1997.

He is survived by his companion, Sarah Huster of Elkhart; two daughters, Brenda (Ned) Gruver of Goshen and Janet (Steven) Houser of Jefferson City, Mo.; two sisters, Beatrice Butler and Wilma Ralston, both of Middlebury; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Maxine and Gladys Shank.

Mr. Shank was a slide maker at C.G. Conn in Elkhart for 28 years until it closed. He then went on to work for U-Rent-It of Elkhart, from which he retired in 1982. He was a former trustee with the Hillcrest United Methodist Church and was a volunteer, making time to help out with church activities and elderly shut-ins. In 1996, he was awarded for being the longest serving volunteer at Habitat for Humanity. He also was involved within the Zion Lutheran Church of Bristol in his earlier years.

Mr. Shank was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served in the Ardennes, the Rhineland and Central Europe with the 333rd Infantry Division, earning no less than three bronze stars for combat bravery. He enjoyed growing flowers and vegetables and woodworking; and he was well known for his ability to fix anything.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations go to the Hillcrest United Methodist Church or Habitat for Humanity. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.billingsfuneralhome.com.