Orville Gust was
born on February 1, 1919 at his home in Deer Park. He was the eighth child in
a family of 10 children born to Emil and Emilie (Jabusch) Gust. He attended
Deer Park school through the ninth grade. He lived his entire life in Deer
Park, except for almost four years while he served his Country in the Army.
As a young man he worked in lumber camps for farmers and at the home farm. In
1940 he started employment with the St. Croix County Highway Department where
he worked for 44 years until his retirement in 1984. At the time of his
retirement, he was one of the longest State employees in the state of
Wisconsin.
In January 1942 he entered the U.S. Army in World War II and spent three
and one-half years in England. He wore a cross on his lapel, which was given
to him by his mother before the war. He carried this with him until he was
discharged in November 1945. On February 2, 1946 he married Lucille Warner in
St. Paul, Minn. They celebrated 59 years of marriage last February. Orville
and Lucy had five children. After retirement, he was active in the community,
serving on the church council, village board and as a member of American
Legion Post 213 of Deer Park. He was sexton of Calvary Cemetery for 15
years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Reinhart (Pauline),
Walter (Gertrude), Clarence (Lorraine) and Herb (Evelyn); sisters, Florence
(Rueben) Luhman, Margaret (Howard) Krueger, Clara (Sidney) Thompson, Louise
(Willard and Gordon) Swanson Rudesill, and Helen (John) Barnum and grandson
Nathan Christenson.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lucille; children, Jerry of Amery,
Jane (Russ) Clark of Galena, Mo., Judy Burnley of Hudson, Jack (Joanne) of
Menomonie, and Sally (Kevin) Christenson of rural Amery; nine grandchildren,
Shayne (Dave) Curtis, Tom, Betsy and Megan Gust, Ryan Clark; Mike (Amy) and
Mathew Gust, Dane and Isaac Christenson; and four great-grandchildren, Emma,
Lucy and Maya Curtis, and Noah John Gust; and many special nieces and
nephews.
Orville's service to his church began as a young boy. It was his duty as a
young boy to walk to church every Sunday morning to make a fire in the wood
stove in the basement to heat the church before services. Before joining the
Army, he played baseball for the Deer Park "Deers" team. He loved to fish,
especially with his sister Florence in the Webb Lake area. Weekend fishing
when his family was young included many excursions to Blake Lake to fish
sunnies and crappies. When he could no longer fish, he truly enjoyed it when
friends and relatives shared their catch of fish with him and Lucy.
Orville was an avid hunter. He enjoyed deer hunting, especially when the
whole family hunted together in rural Deer Park. Lucy joined Orville in may
partridge and pheasant hunting ventures. Orville claimed that Lucy had the
eyes to spot birds and he had the sure shot. Lucy certainly knew how to cook
up a meal of partridge and pheasant for Orville.
Raised on a farm, Orville's love for planting and harvesting never ceased.
His children have fond, and maybe not so fond, memories of picking cucumbers,
beans, tomatoes, and corn and digging potatoes. Many chickens and pigs were
raised when his kids were growing up - he had to figure out some way to feed
his big family. Most evenings in the summer, Orville could be spotted tilling
his garden. His harvest was often shared with friends and neighbors.
Orville was often seen driving his tractor around town. He was always
willing to give a helping hand to anyone. Some may wonder if Orville prayed
for a lot of snow to plow for the neighbors. His service to Deer Park
included working at the dump. Many a treasure was found and brought home. If
you ever saw the items in his garage, you know what is meant by that. He took
pride in his home and maintaining a large lawn. He also enjoyed cutting wood
and using a wood stove.
It's been said that Orville couldn't sit for long; he could only sit for a
church service and a good game of cards. He loved to play cards, especially
500 and euchre. He loved to bid 10 no trump and really got a kick out of
"setting" the opposing team. He also played horseshoes a lot with his
brothers, brothers-in-law and others.
Orville enjoyed 20+ years of retirement, with most of those years in good
health. When living in their own home in Deer Park became difficult, he and
Lucy moved to Evergreen Village in Amery. Though he never would admit it, he
seemed to enjoy his recent months there. He met new people and many have
talked about how much they enjoyed his company and sense of humor. He would
walk the hall with his walking stick and became the one who tended the door
for people to enter. He enjoyed playing in cribbage tournaments and other
card games.
After he became ill this spring he would often say, "I'm 86 and I'm in a
fix." With failing health, Orville was hospitalized several times. Many times
he expressed that his fight for life was over and that enough was enough. He
knew that he was being called to his final Home. He spent his last days at
Golden Age Manor and died there, with his wife at his side, on Thursday, June
9.
Orville, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, friend, we will surely miss you.
Funeral services were held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Deer Park with
Rev. Dan Voth officiating. Music for the service was provided by Cindy Nelson
and David Swanson. Orville's grandchildren were the casketbearers for the
service. Interment was at Calvary Cemetery in Deer Park with the Deer Park
American Legion providing honors.
Arrangements were made by the Williamson Funeral Home in Amery.
(New Richmond News - Thursday, June 16, 2005)
ORVILLE GUST
Services for Orville Gust, 86, were at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Deer
Park, with the Rev. Dan Voth officiating.
Music was provided by Cindy Nelson and David Swanson.
Grandchildren were the casketbearers with interment at Calvary Cemetery,
Deer Park.
The Deer Park American Legion provided honors. Arrangements were made by
Williamson Funeral Home, Amery.
Orville Gust was born February 1, 1919, at his home in Deer Park. He was
the eighth child in a family of 10, born to Emil and Emilie (Jabusch)
Gust.
He attended Deer Park school and lived his entire life in Deer Park,
except for almost four years in the Army.
As a young man he worked in lumber camps, for farmers, and at the home
farm. In 1940 he started employment with the St. Croix County Highway
Department where he worked for 44 years until retirement in 1984. At the time
of his retirement, he was one of the longest State employees in Wisconsin.
In January 1942, he entered the U.S. Army in World War II and spent 3 1/2
years in England.
On February 2, 1946, he was married to Lucille Warner in St. Paul. They
celebrated 59 years of marriage last February. They had five children.
After retirement, he was active in the community, serving on the church
council, village board and as a member of American Legion Post of Deer Park.
He was sexton of Calvary Cemetery for 15 years.
His service to church began as a young boy. It was his duty as a young boy
to walk to church every Sunday morning to make a fire in the wood stove.
Before joining the Army he played baseball for the Deer Park "Deers" team.
He was an avid hunter.
He had 20+ years of retirement, with most of those years in good health.
When living in their own home in Deer Park became difficult, he and Lucy
moved to Evergreen Village, Amery.
With failing health, he was hospitalized several times. He spent his last
days at Golden Age Manor and died there on Thursday, June 9.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Reinhart, Walter,
Clarence and Herb; sisters, Florence Luhman, Margaret Krueger, Clara
Thompson, Louise Swanson Rudesill and Helen Barnum; and grandson Nathan
Christenson.
He is survived by is wife, Lucille; children, Jerry of Amery, Jane (Russ)
Clark of Galena, MO, Judy Burnley of Hudson, Jack (Joanne) of Menomonie and
Sally (Kevin) Christenson of rural Amery; nine grandchildren and four
great-grandchildren.
Orville Gust was
born on February 1, 1919 at his home in Deer Park. He was the eighth child in
a family of 10 children born to Emil and Emilie (Jabusch) Gust. He attended
Deer Park school through the ninth grade. He lived his entire life in Deer
Park, except for almost four years while he served his Country in the Army.
As a young man he worked in lumber camps for farmers and at the home farm. In
1940 he started employment with the St. Croix County Highway Department where
he worked for 44 years until his retirement in 1984. At the time of his
retirement, he was one of the longest State employees in the state of
Wisconsin.