April 25, 1934 - December 13, 2020 Austin led a unique and meaningful life and passed in peace. His life was well and fully lived. Always willing to help others, he has a large legacy of friends and colleagues. All of his family is proud of him. Austin was born in Moncton, N.B., the only son of Freeman and Dora Knowlton (née Wood). His post-secondary education was in Sackville, New Brunswick where he earned his degree in Physics and Engineering. Austin married Margaret "Midge" Laidlaw after they met at Mount Allison University. They were the proud parents of their sons Ian Robert and Steven William Knowlton. Unfortunately, the family was shattered by the death of Midge in 1986. Austin loved his grandsons Cameron and Patrick, sons of Steven and his wife Margaret Jackson. I was very fortunate to meet Austin in late October,1988. I am grateful for every hour of our time together. He held a big spot in his heart for his special granddaughter Katherine Gale Hood and her mother Laurie Lee Monck. Austin's profession took him many places in Canada and the US, India, Africa, and Central America. Always well liked, it has been reported that his reputation was as "the Construction Manager who always rolled up his sleeves and took charge to get things done to spec. and on time." The same dedication he gave in his professional life he gave in his volunteer life. In retirement he was "always dedicated to the job at hand", and his dedication was respected by those who worked with him. His volunteer work with Village Theatre, Habitat for Humanity, Third Age Learning and Third Age Network, Probus, Burlington Dance Academy, and Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts have been well documented and honoured. Rest in Peace and Pride my Beloved Husband, Gale

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Hamilton Spectator on Jan. 2, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Austin Knowlton

4 Entries

Susan Goetz

January 9, 2021

I met Austin through Habitat for Humanity. He was a strong leader who made a difference each day to the lives of all he encountered. He worked tirelessly and with a strong sense of commitment to the organizations he supported including Habitat. He treated everyone with respect. He was a great teacher who willing shared his knowledge and skills. Never without a pen and paper, he often illustrated the point or task he was speaking about. Every moment with Austin was memorable. Thanks for the memories.

Cyndi & Tim Mastin

January 8, 2021

We met Austin on our honeymoon trip to Italy back in April 2001. We were instantly taken by how friendly he was and when we discovered that we all were from Burlington, we became great travel partners. We enjoyed hearing about all his volunteer work and took great interest in his Habitat project that was built near our home in Aldershot. Before Covid hit, my scout group was scheduled to help out at another project on Queensway Dr. I was hoping that I might run into him there once again. It was his stories that led me to get our group involved. I’m sure all the various groups he spent his time and talents with will feel his loss. Our condolences to the family. The world has lost “a good and faithful servant”!

Warren Elliott

January 3, 2021

Knowing Austin, sharing life, work and project experiences, dining together with our wives and friends, through some 20 years has left me with many wonderful memories. Austin's natural and direct leadership style, mental agility, approach to issues, challenges or any problem, positively impacted me and, I am sure, countless others. I enjoyed every moment with Austin, they were never dull, often mind boggling, always creative; a true friend. His initials “A.O.K.” are testament to whatever he tackled; the end result was always better than AOK.

Kerry Corrigan

January 2, 2021

Austin was truly one of a kind - generous, caring, a hard worker with mad skills and a wicked sense of humour. Austin made everyone around him feel appreciated and motivated. He could build anything - we used to joke that his Village Theatre sets could survive WWIII - yet he always shared his knowledge with others, the penultimate team player. Austin we will miss you.

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 results

Memorial Events
for Austin Knowlton

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

CIRCLE OF LIFE CREMATION AND BURIAL CENTRE

100 King St. E, Dundas, ON L9H 1C4

Austin Obed P. Eng. Knowlton

BORN

DIED

FUNERAL HOME

Austin Knowlton Obituary

Memories and Condolences for Austin Knowlton

Memorial Events for Austin Knowlton

Memories and Condolences
for Austin Knowlton

Memorial Events
for Austin Knowlton