Orlo Blaine Austin

Throughout his 85 years, Orlo lived a principled and generous life. He and his three siblings Janice, Gary and Sharon, did not have much growing up on rented farms in rural southern Minnesota, but they did have a hard-working mother who led by example and taught each of her children that they could, and should, aspire for more.

As a child, Orlo attended two one-room schoolhouses, Liberty and Beaver Center. Orlo worked throughout his childhood – one of his first money making endeavors was trapping gophers. Later, while Orlo was in 5th grade, the family moved to LeRoy Minnesota, a community of nearly 1,000 residents, where he worked delivering papers, mowing lawns, and later in a hardware store and a clothing store.

While Orlo’s parents had no formal education beyond the 8th grade, he graduated from LeRoy High School in 1958. He had never planned to go to college, but later that summer his principal called and suggested he go to college, taking advantage of the new National Defense Education Act of 1958 that made higher education funding available.

Orlo followed that advice and enrolled at Mankato State University in the fall of 1958. He took a semester or two off along the way to work, met his future wife, Cheryl, and graduated from Mankato State with a bachelor’s degree.

Orlo briefly taught and coached at Sleepy Eye High School while Cheryl finished her degree. Orlo and Cheryl then wed on August 9, 1964, and moved to the Twin Cities. For a period after their marriage, Orlo trained for a position within Johnson’s War on Poverty program. Ultimately, he decided to return to school and attend the University of Minnesota to earn his master’s degree. Remembering the gift his principal at LeRoy High School had provided to him, Orlo went to work in the student financial aid office at the University of Minnesota. He wanted to help young people benefit from a higher education.

In 1977 Orlo earned a PhD from the University of Minnesota and rose to be the Assistant Director of Financial Aid.

In 1981, with two grade-school aged children, Peter and Ingrid, Orlo accepted the position of Director of Financial Aid and Student Services at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. While leading his department, he also became a leader in financial aid at the state, regional and national level, including spending time in Washington DC working with Senator Paul Simon on federal student loan reforms. After 25 years, he ended his career in at the University of Illinois in 2004; helping thousands of young adults earn a higher education – no matter where they came from.

While Orlo was a national leader in the student financial aid profession, his most important jobs were husband, dad, and grandpa. He excelled in these roles. With a caring, quiet and fun demeanor, he led by example teaching the importance of honesty, empathy, generosity, and ice cream.

Orlo and Cheryl retired to Florida, first part-time, then full-time. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church, holding council positions at churches in Illinois and Florida. He was a daily consumer of news and politics, and huge follower of Big Ten sports, especially his Illini.

Orlo is survived by his wife of 61 year, Cheryl, son Peter (Jennifer), daughter Ingrid Abernathy (Jim), grandchildren Andrew (Micah), Noah, Charlie and William, brother Gary (Dianna) and sister Sharon (Rob).

He is preceded in death by his sister, Janice, and his beloved grandson Jackson.

Gifts of remembrance can be made to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, in honor of Jackson Abernathy.

A celebration of life will be scheduled in Florida in January of 2026. More information to follow.

Orlo is resting in the loving arms of our Lord. When he closed his eyes and took his last breath, Orlo came face to face with his Lord and Savior, who in a soft voice said, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Welcome home.”