Carl was born in Mosinee, Wisconsin, on September 5, 1925, the son of Carl and Inez (Hotchkiss) Gust. He grew up in the Wabeno area and after school, heeded his country's call to service in the United States Navy. After an honorable discharge, he went to work doing what he did best, working with his hands. He was a "jack of all trades" who specialized in carpentry, and he worked for a time for Valley Home Builders, Inc. On August 30, 1952, he married Maryellen Schalz at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church in Wabeno. They moved to Milwaukee where Carl continued to work until retiring in 1980. Maryellen, however, came back to the Townsend area before that to take care of her parents, and Carl faithfully came up every weekend to see her. After moving to Townsend, Carl and Maryellen ran her father's bar "Joe's Bar". When not working, Carl enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors. When the weather would not permit him to be outside, he would wear out decks of cards playing solitaire. On December 27,2000, Maryellen, his wife of 48 years, preceded him in death. Both Carl and Maryellen loved their family, and spent much time with them. Now Carl is with his wife again, and their family and friends miss them both.
Carl is survived by four daughters Beverly (Jim) Schmidt of Greenfield, WI; Jackie (Scott) Hayner of Howards Grove, WI; Terry Seese of Greenfield, WI; Lorrie Shepard of Lakewood; two sons Carl (Shawn) Gust of Waukesha; Theodore (Robin) Gust of Lakewood; two sisters Joyce (Holger) Renken of Jackson, WI; Dorothy Crivello of Milwaukee, WI; six brothers Kenny (Sally) Gust of Shelton, WA; Darold Gust of Blackwell, WI; Leon (Angela) Gust of Oklahoma City, OK, Herbert (Rita) Gust of Richmond, WA; Joel (Sucha) Heller of Rock Island, IL; Jerry Heller of Tucson; 17 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Donna, Marie, and Gladys.
Friends called upon the family from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 30, at the Suminski Funeral Home in Wabeno. Deacon Harold Orlowski led the funeral services that evening at the funeral home at 8 p.m. interment to take Place at a later date.