Auggie was born on Sept. 5, 1922 in Minneapolis, the son of Donato and Concetta (Luipi) Mezzenga. He graduated from Marshall High School. On Jan. 23, 1943, he was united in marriage to Bette Greer in Minneapolis. Auggie worked with Honeywell Inc. in the Aerospace Division for over 20 years. In 1968, he changed career paths when he and Bette purchased a restaurant "Up North" in Pequot Lakes. Later that same year they moved to Crosslake. They owned and operated Mezzenga's Cafe for two years until he returned to various management positions with Sportscraft, S.C. Distributors, and Larco Mfg. He fully retired to his hobby farm in Crosslake in 1985.

In addition to his business and family life, Auggie was a member of Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, a past member of the Knights of Columbus, served as Mayor of Crosslake, and the Director of the Crosslake Food Shelf. Among the many pleasures of his life - playing cards, cooking, traveling - none were as important to him as his family. He measured his life not by his possessions or monetarily; his wealth was his family and his family is what he enjoyed the most of life.

Auggie will be lovingly missed by his wife of 65 years, Bette; children, Jan (Doris) Mezzenga; Susan Mezzenga and Jim Eder of Brainerd, Susie Mezzenga of Crosslake, Jill (Merlin) Carlson of Pequot Lakes, and Patty (Tom) Steiger of Nisswa; 24 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Angeline Barrett, Joseph, Donato, and John Mezzenga. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donato and Concetta; brother, Vincent; and son, Tom.

Memorials are preferred to the Immaculate Heart Church Building Fund. To leave a message of comfort and support for the family go to www.brenny.com.

Arrangements were with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Crosslake.