Michele J. Auten

Michele J. Auten, 73, died peacefully at her home in West Des Moines on Monday, March 26, 2021. A Celebration of Life service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, April 9, 2021 at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines with Chaplain Pam Avaux officiating the service. Please check their website for Covid 19 protocols for the service. It will also be live streamed at: https://hopeonline.tv/special events for those who would like to participate in viewing her service.

Michele had a deep and abiding faith with her Lord and Savior and is finally home. For her entire life she was active in churches she attended. She always found ways to volunteer, share her faith and make a difference. From children’s choirs she led with full musicals and sets (way before that was even a thing) she encouraged faith and strong foundations in the children she worked with. Youth groups, music and women’s ministries were all important to her. When she moved to West Des Moines, she anxiously jumped right into Hope’s many volunteer opportunities to not only meet people but to also help others. She was involved with Alpha, Prayer Ministry, New Member’s Classes, Care Ministries, Women’s Bible Study, and Women of Faith. She loved doing the annual “Trunk and Treat” with family and reflecting love and faith with all the families and children who participated. Her “roles” each year in that event as Olaf, a Lollipop Kid, Mrs. Pott’s, Bob the Minion and Rafiki were legendary.

She loved her very large family. She prayed for each of them and cherished the time they spent together. She shared in something she’d written that “My one prayer for each of my family is they will see in me how important the Lord is in my life. The Lord’s covenant with me for my family is the greatest blessing I have.” Whether across the room, across the miles or on the phone they were never far from her thoughts. For years she did full scale “Cousin Camps” at her home complete with themes, activities, t-shirts, prizes and parent shows for any cousin age 3 or older. Her grandchildren yearned to be that age to participate and join in all the fun.

She worked in restaurants she owned and later worked at United Electric Cooperative. She retired as the Director of United Services, Inc. She implemented DIRECTV for rural customers and built a department to support those efforts. When DIRECTV first came out, she traveled the country advocating for rural customers and continued implementing vital services for those communities.

She was smart, resilient, funny, a devoted friend and kind. Although life threw her many, many challenges she always found ways to be resilient and rise above with her faith and determination. She never knew a stranger. Her friendships meant a great deal to her and her willingness to gather people in along the way was amazing.

She is survived by her daughters Char Bush (Greg) of West Des Moines, IA, Jeannie Weissenborn (Paul) of Kansas City, MO, Elaine Simpson (Chuck) of Basehor, KS, Christine Allenbrand (Richard) of Kansas City, MO and Lisa Jensen (Erik) of Paola, KS. She is also survived by her siblings, Marlene White (Allan) of Kansas City, KS, Mike Gorzik (Helen) of Robstown, TX and Melanie Dearing (Steve) of Archie, MO. In addition she is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren (with a 5th on the way in June) and 7 nieces and nephews. All of whom she loved deeply and cherished. Family and friends were everything to her in addition to her faith.

She loved this quote by James Freeman:

“The light of God surrounds me;

The love of God enfolds me;

The power of God protects me;

The presence of God watches over me.

Wherever I am, God is.”

Michele wished to be cremated and her remains to be given to her five daughters. Sadly due to Covid, we are not able to have a luncheon at Hope after the service for family and friends. Memorial contributions can be directed to the Michele Auten Memorial Contribution at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50266. Prayers, condolences and memories are gladly accepted at www.mclarensresthavenchapel.com.