Bruce Shannon Austin, age 55, of St. Elmo, Illinois passed away at 9:10 a.m. Saturday, July 22, 2023 at the Select Specialty Hospital in St. Charles, Missouri.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 27, 2023 at St. Elmo Christian Church with a one-hour visitation prior to the service. Jim Giffin will be officiating. Burial will be at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Brownstown. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Pagel Funeral Homes in St. Elmo. Memorials may go to St. Elmo FFA, Fayette County Fair grounds or the donor's choice.

Bruce was born on July 16, 1968 in Vandalia, Illinois, the son of Stephen H. and Gloria F. (Goldsboro) Austin. He loved gardening, going on vacation, playing games, riding motorcycles, going on jeep rides, and spending time with his family. Bruce was a member of the St. Elmo Christian Church and loved his children and grandchildren more than anything. Bruce was known to be the best sweet corn grower in the world. He helped on the family farm and worked at Three Z Printing for nearly 30 years.

He is survived by his parents, Stephen and Gloria Austin of St. Elmo; son, Blake Austin (fiancé Deana Shelton) of St. Elmo; daughter, Samantha Austin (boyfriend Jon Thomas) of Charleston; brothers, Jeffrey Austin (fiancé Jackie Nagel) of St. Elmo and Mark Austin (girlfriend Diane Isringhausen) of St. Elmo; sister, Jodi Kollman (husband Tom) of Liberty, Indiana; two grandchildren, Aiden Austin and Nash Austin both of St. Elmo; and grandpa, David Goldsboro of Brownstown; former wife and the mother of his children, Terri Austin of Effingham. Bruce also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandma, Geraldine Goldsboro and grandparents, Herbert and Fay Austin.