Dr. Jack Baron Austerman

Dr. Jack Baron Austerman, D.D.S., M.S. bid adieu to his earthly home in the early morning hours of May 5, 2025. His loving wife of 71 years, Nancy, was by his side.

Jack was born in Ft. Smith, AR on October 26, 1928 to Eva Baswell Austerman and Fred Austerman. From age 2-4, he lived in Poteau, OK, which he always considered his second home. At the age of 4, he moved to Oklahoma City where he was raised by his mother and stepfather, Albert Tapp. A sister, Marcia, was born in 1934. Jack attended OKC Public Schools, graduating from Classen High School in 1946.

Jack graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1950 with a B.S. in Zoology. While there, he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He then attended the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry and graduated in 1954 with a D.D.S. degree. In 1961, he returned to UMKC and obtained an M.S. degree in Orthodontics.

In November 1953, Jack married Nancy Witten of Trenton, MO. To them were born two children, Karen and David. Jack and Nancy had a rich, full, and long life together, complementing each other well.

Jack's service in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve spanned 15 years. He served as a dental officer, which took him to Korea and Camp Pendleton, CA. He was very proud of his Naval service, which led to a lifelong interest in militaria and an extensive collection of Navy caps and other memorabilia.

For two decades, Jack had a successful orthodontic practice in OKC. He was well respected by patients and colleagues alike. Upon retiring from his practice, he became a clinical assistant instructor and then a clinical assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Upon retiring from the College of Dentistry, Jack was honored with the title of Clinical Professor Emeritus.

If Jack could have chosen a career other than dentistry, it would have involved railroads. A railroad enthusiast all of his life, his knowledge of all things trains was extensive. His vast collection of railroad memorabilia and model trains brought him much pleasure. Many long-lasting friendships were formed with other rail enthusiasts across the country. He belonged to many railroad organizations. Jack and his friend John Knuppel founded Yukon's Best Railroad Museum in Yukon, OK.

As a saxophone and clarinet player, Jack played in local community bands with Nancy (a percussionist) and the Chapel Hill UMC orchestra. His tastes in music were eclectic and included music of the Big Band Era, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, jazz, Motown, and the Bee Gees. Jack was a dedicated fan of OU football, women's and men's basketball, and women's softball. Travel with Nancy brought him much joy (especially if it involved trains!) and the Southwest was one of their favorite places to visit.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents Eva Tapp, Albert Tapp, Fred Austerman, and his sister, Marcia Dever. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter Karen Diefenderfer (David); his son David Austerman (Lisa); grandchildren Brian Diefenderfer, Phoebe Austerman, Freddie Austerman, Violet Austerman, Alison Krattiger (Paul), Lindsey Snow, Lauren Dodson (Ryan); great-grandchildren Ellery, Harper, Griffin, Bellamy, and Bennett.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the charity of your choice, in Jack's memory.

A gathering to celebrate Jack's life will take place at a later date.

Life is like a mountain railway,
with an engineer that's brave.
We must make that run successful,
from the cradle to the grave.
Heed the curves and hills and tunnels,
never falter, never fail,
Keep your hand upon the throttle,
and your eyes upon the rail.
-- M.E. Abbey