William Gust

William "Bill" August Gust, 90, died early Monday, November 16, 2015 at Stone Crest Residence, Wausau under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.

Bill was born May 27, 1925 in the town of Cleveland, Marathon County, the son of the late Otto and Johanna (Hagen) Gust Sr. He attended Balsam Grade School and graduated from Stratford High School in May 1942.

After graduation he went to work for his former teacher, Mr. George Gresch, on his family farm. When George took over his father's hardware store in Antigo, he asked Bill to come along and work for him. After several years he came to Wausau and worked for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association (D.H.I.A.) of Marathon County as a field manager. He entered the United States Army on September 26, 1950. He was in the 45th Infantry Division in the Korean Conflict until September 8th, 1952 receiving his honorable discharge.

Returning to the DHIA, he met Irene Imm through mutual friends. They were married on January 12, 1955 at Trinity Lutheran Church parsonage in Wausau, WI by Rev. E.H. Berterman.

On February 26, 1965 he went to work for the Wausau Post Office until January 2, 1987 retiring as a Bulk Mail Technician.

Bill was a member of the National American Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) where he was a past president and vice president. He was also an AARP member and a member of VFW Burns Post #388, Wausau, a member of the Postal Credit Union serving as the chairman of the Audit Committee, retiring from there February 6, 2006 after 17 years.

William was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Wausau, and served in various positions through the years.

His hobbies were gardening, woodworking, reading, crossword puzzles and traveling. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren and attended their sporting events as often as he could. He was also a great fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers. And when his great-grandchildren came he enjoyed them very much, the little kids loved their great-grandparents.

He enjoyed going to his breakfast club with all the people he worked with at the Post Office, and attending noon luncheons with 1942 high school classmates.

He is survived by his wife, Irene of 60 years; daughter, Jane R. (Mark) Brandt of Wausau; grandchildren, Michelle (Jason) Waldvogel, Jennifer (Jeremy) Gruna and Gregory (Renee) Brandt; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Joshua, Miles and Parker. He is also survived by one brother, Walter (Carolla) Gust of Richland Center; sisters, Marjorie (Lawrence) Toelle of Town of Cleveland, Joyce Engel of Rice Lake, Phyllis (Gordon) Knutson of New Berlin and Edith Acheé of Phoenix, AZ; aunt, Erma Krostag of Marshfield and numerous nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Goldie Stick and Helen Kratzer; brothers, Edmund (Gertrude) Gust and Otto "Red" (Pauline "Peggy") Gust Jr.; brothers-in-law, John Stick, Frederick Engel, Paul Acheé and Alvin Kratzer.

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Thursday, November 19, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Wausau. Rev. Gary Schultz will officiate. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until the time of services at the church on Thursday. Burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery following the funeral with military rites. Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements; you may sign our family guestbook at helke.com.

A heartfelt word of thanks goes to the nurses and staff of The Gardens, Stone Crest and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for their compassionate care of Bill and his family.