Gus died September 25, 2011, in Okeene, Oklahoma. He was
born February 5, 1920, in Newton, KS. Gus went through schools in Corn, OK, and graduated from Corn H.S. and joined the Mennonite Church. He was going to Southwestern State College in Weatherford when he was drafted into the CPS program.

Gus jumped the 1943-44 seasons as part of the small crew at Cave Junction, Oregon. He made a total of 23 training and fire jumps.

After the war, Gus went into the custom wheat harvesting business in the Okeene area that took him from Oklahoma to Montana. He was a member of the Okeene Mennonite Brethren Church and was active in Mennonite charitable efforts.Gus was inducted in the Blaine County Hall of Fame in 1998. He was involved in the career for 40 years before developing the family farm in partnership with his three sons.