LTE – Peter Gaustad – 3-4-2020
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To the Residents of Glenwood City and families and workers of the School district of Glenwood City,
This letter was a long time coming and truth be told will never fulfill my desire in seeking forgiveness. In 2001 I moved to GC and was in my second year at the school. Glenwood City provided me and my kids with so much love, compassion and heartfelt care. It is essential to me to apologize to so many people. If you were to ask me what happened, I am not sure I could tell you. You have read the papers, saw the news, etc. Some is true, some is wrong, but the fact remains that I committed an egregious error in judgment. So often I wish I could turn back time to redo everything, but I put my faith in knowing God has a purpose for me. What that is I do not know, but I embrace each day with His profound grace!
To the families of Glenwood City Schools, I’m sorry. I let you down and created doubt in your minds. Your children deserved better of me. What hurts me the most is how I let so many down. All of your kids were like mine too. I hurt when they hurt, laughed when they laughed, and cried when they cried. Please know that I am sorry for the pain I caused you.
To the students of G.C. You are truly a great group of kids and I’m sorry I’ve hurt you all. I broke a trust that never should have been broken. I always considered you like my own and meant that with a heart full of joy. I do hope you can forgive me.
To my family I left at Glenwood City, each day I smile at the memories and hold back tears to those memories. I loved my 19 years at GC. I bled blue and white and saw the school as a home. You were my family. You took care of me, my kids, and I forever will be thankful for that. There are some of you that I owe extra apologies. The administrators, especially Mr. Johnson and Mr. Gretzlock. I can never put into words how sorry I am. Your eyes the day I was arrested hurt. I let you down. I’m sorry. The middle school staff was truly a core of myself. I love you all and hate that I broke that trust. There are so many others I’m sorry for hurting. From Mrs. Jones, whose friendship was so pure, to Ms. Erickson who was a valuable assistant to me in softball to Ms. Ohman, Mr. Weikel, Ms. Blackmore, Ms. Hentz, Mr. and Mrs. Hierlmeier, Mr. Strong, Mr. Ketola, Mr. Wannemacher, Mr. Lamb and Mr. Popko you were such good people. I’m sorry I failed you too. I’m sure I may miss someone but I’m sorry. One other person I need to apologize to is Coach Fayerweather. When I saw you one day at court I was ashamed, hurt, and wanted to just burst out in tears. You were a friend to me that I appreciated so much. I loved coaching with you and enjoyed our conversations so much. I’m sorry to you, Dean, truly sorry.
To Glenwood City, I let you all down. You were and still are a great community. I must say that my heart hurts knowing the pain I caused you all. To Shari, at City Hall, I’m so sorry I let you down. I told you that you could trust me, I’m sorry I failed. Your friendship was so important to me. All of the council was another group I loved to be a part of each day. I served with some great people to loved GC!
For all I missed I’m sorry. I did not intend to be so winded in my letter. If I forgot to mention you it was not on purpose. Each day I think of what I lost and may never have back. Life will go on and from now until I leave The Department of Correction I will be offender 684268. I will be housed with every type of criminal, but I plan to use this time to build myself back. Someday I hope to come back to Glenwood City. In closing I hope you can forgive me, but I understand if you don’t.
Thank you for reading,
Peter Gaustad 684268
Jackson Correctional Institution
Black River Falls, WI