Laverne M. Gust

Laverne M. Gust “Gus” was born in Deer Park, Wisconsin, in 1929, the son of Pauline and Reinhart Gust. Reinhart died when Gus was ten. His mother then moved to Minneapolis to find work and he was sent to live with an aunt in Glenwood City.  He graduated high school in 1947 as Valedictorian, which earned him a scholarship to River Falls College, where he earned a pre-law degree. He later graduated from William Mitchell College of Law. He worked as an insurance broker for the Charles W. Sexton Company and Alexander & Alexander (who purchased Sexton) for fifty years. He developed a specialty in marine insurance and his clients included many of the major barge operations on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

In 1950, he married Patricia Marko, who was also from Glenwood City. They had gone to high school together but did not date until after high school. They moved to the Twin Cities and lived in South Minneapolis until moving into a senior living facility.

He was very active in his community, having served as President and General Festival Chairman of the Minneapolis Aquatennial, President of Kiwanis, Vice President of Hazeltine National Golf Club, and many other social and professional organizations.

He never lost his affection for Glenwood City. During most of his adult life, he visited friends and family at least once a month.  He loved playing cards at the Ford garage and having beers at the Boondocks. When he heard Glenwood City was playing in the boys’ state basketball championship in 2001, he drove to the Boondocks to watch the game. When he heard that the boys golf team had made it to state, he invited the entire team to play at Hazeltine.

He and his wife established the Laverne and Patricia Gust Scholarship at Glenwood City High School. He contributed money to Glenhaven Nursing Home to provide necessities for the office.  Finally, his estate planning documents provide for generous bequests to the Glenwood City and Deer Park libraries.

He entered the next life on August 31, 2024. His funeral was held on September 9, 2024, and he is now at the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Laverne is survived by Pat, his wife of almost 74 years, four children: Jim, Jolene, Bob, and Karen; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. From the first game of catch as preschoolers to the family reunion vacations, his children always knew how important they were to him. He will be missed.