Ronald Murrell Kautz

Ronald Murrell Kautz, 80, of Austin, Texas, passed away peacefully at home in Austin, Texas on March 26, 2021. Ronald was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota to Murrell Francis Kautz and Esther Martha Stellner on November 16, 1940. Ronald graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After his graduation June 5, 1963, he served as a pilot in the US Air Force and retired July 31, 1984. He had a distinguished career and received numerous awards including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Top Gun Award, Meritorious Service Medal, and Air Force Commendation Medal. After his retirement from the Air Force he worked at the University of Texas in Austin until he retired. He was active in his church, Christ Lutheran in Austin, where he served as an Elder and Treasurer. He also enjoyed volunteering as a Travis County Master Gardener. He and his wife Jo volunteered with Gold Ribbon Rescue fostering many Golden Retrievers. He is survived by his wife Josephine "Jo" McAuley Kautz, his sister Dee (Kautz) Baker and husband Bob Goodrich of Tustin, California, his children Katy (Kautz) Smith and husband Ken Smith of Osage Beach, Missouri, his son Kevin Kautz and wife C...[more]

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ste (Transue) Kautz of Las Vegas, Nevada, his step daughter Sheri (Schmidt) Pierce and husband Russell Pierce of Early, Texas, his stepson Glenn Schmidt and wife Stacey (Ketchum) Schmidt of Smithville, Texas, his step son Brad Schmidt and wife Angela (Stacey) Schmidt of Leander, Texas, 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Murrell Francis Kautz and Esther Martha Stellner, his brother James Kautz, and his former wife Roxanne (Nystrom) Kautz. The family requests memorial donations be made to Christ Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers.