Cover photo for Gustave “Gus” Tresch's Obituary
Gustave “Gus” Tresch Profile Photo
1945 Gustave 2017

Gustave “Gus” Tresch

January 8, 1945 — August 19, 2017

Gustave "Gus" Joseph Tresch passed away peacefully in his home in St. Peters Mo on Saturday August 19, 2017 at the age of 72. Loving husband of 48 years to Mary E (Lindsey) Tresch; beloved son of the late Joseph Nicholas Jr. and Audrey A (Fischer); devoted father of Lauri (Jack) Howard, Cathleen (Steve) Grundhauser, Kim Tresch, and John (Dar) Tresch;  treasured grandfather of Jessica, Courtney, Casten, Collin, Cole, Seth, Jayce, and Allison; much loved brother of Gloria (Rick) Moentmann and Donald (Mary) Tresch; brother in love to Sue Best, Karen McMahon and Bill (Marianne) Lindsey. He is preceded in death by his sister Lydia Campana, nephew Ricky Moentmann and most beloved granddaughter Brooklyn Paige Tresch.

     Early childhood was filled with lots of pleasant memories, but Gus was “not sure which was his favorite.” There were so many! Maybe it was playing softball, or fishing in Fairgrounds Park Lake. Or maybe the times his mother would take him for a walk, or his father and two uncles would ride their bikes. Then again, possibly it was riding his wagon; doing any assortment of things with either Uncle Larry (who actually was three months younger than Gus); his brother and sisters, or neighbors Bob & Rick Moentmann; or friends Doris, Sue, Jeannie. Gus also had fond memories of the Carter Carburetor picnics, with lots of “rides, ice cream, food, soda and dances.” There was even a fishing derby at Fairgrounds Park. There he received a fishing pole and line, was able to craft a leather potholder, and could cool off by running through a swing-set device that sprayed water.


By contrast, the time Gus was required to spend at school was far less memorable. He attended Bryan Hill until about the fourth or fifth grade; when the family moved, he then transferred to Harrison Elementary. Throughout these early years of formal education, Gus can hardly remember any favorite classes or teachers – though he did seem to enjoy science and gym more than the others (“not really for any reason”), and favored a pretty teacher he had in kindergarten (though he doesn’t recollect her name). What was his favorite memory from grade school? His answer, summing up his attitude, comes as no surprise: “When I got out!”


This trend continued into high school, spent at Beaumont High. Again, Gus had favorites neither in teachers or classes, nor even a favorite memory. But he didn’t get the full opportunity to explore all the possibilities, even with extracurricular activities. For after Gus’ sophomore year, father Joseph’s chronic rheumatic fever came back with a vengeance, which weakened his heart and disabled him from work. As the eldest son, Gus therefore had to pick up the slack and support the family. Though one day in the distant future he also would dabble in English and Science classes at Lindenwood College (now University), and on other occasions


would take courses at trade schools, this event prematurely and precipitately finished off his formal education.


But Gus didn’t like school much anyway; he preferred work – even if you didn’t care much for the stuff you had to do, at least you still got paid to do it. And he enjoyed a wide variety of jobs – so wide, in fact, that he may have overlooked a couple during this journey down memory lane. Starting off, he spent a mere three or four weeks delivering toiletry products for Proctor & Gamble. Then for a few years he toiled at St. Louis Shipyard, where he helped build barges and tugboats while learning the valuable craft of arc welding.


But the winds of war were blowing – specifically, the Vietnam War. In September 1965 Gus was drafted into the United States Army, progressing in his two years of service from private to specialist fourth class. After first getting his shots and gear at Fort Leonard Wood, Gus received his basic and AIT training at Fort Carson – where he learned how to shoot a long-range 105 Howitzer. With his training complete, he then spent the rest of his service time in Dachau, Germany. “Our barracks was Hitler’s headquarters in the city where the Germans had a concentration camp. The basement had a secret tunnel that Hitler could use to escape to Munich.”


Now an engineering mechanic for the 3rd 37th Army Artillery, Gus devoted his talents to fixing and maintaining all sorts of equipment and vehicles: wheels, generators, compressors, etc. for trucks, jeeps, troop carriers, ¾- and 2- to 5-ton tanks. When he started up, the outfit had an unused room filled with all sorts of odds and ends that Gus converted to his workshop. At first only five of the twenty-five generators in the motor pool were in working order. Gus points with pride to the fact that, by the time he was honorably discharged in 1967, he had made sure that every last one of them was battle-ready.


A civilian again, Gus found work at several places, displaying uncommon loyalty to his various jobs – usually leaving for other work only when circumstances compelled him to do so. He began at the place his father had worked at – Carter Carburetor. Here he was a final flow inspector until the shop closed down two years later. Then it was on to Hussmann Refrigeration, where he landed a job brazing (welding together with a blow torch) the pipes for cooling systems. Here he labored for six years, until the union “got busted.”


The next stop proved to be the longest lasting, as well as almost the last. For the bulk of his career (24 years), Gus worked at one particular plant – which changed ownership (and names) during his time there. At Monsanto (and later, MEMC), Gus started out as a custodian but quickly was promoted to the production line, where he inspected and cleaned the silicon chips used in computers. Encouraged to take early retirement, Gus did so in August 2001 – only to return to the work force after about a year to Wal-Mart in O’Fallon third shift there in the maintenance department.


Through all these different jobs (and there were several more temporary ones than these just listed), as well as the tough times between them, Gus has been fortunate enough to have one faithful and loving companion throughout. He first met Mary Lindsey on a blind date on her eighteenth birthday (November 4th 1964), set up by mutual friends. Though it wasn’t “love at


first sight,” the sparks of romance kindled for a long time; the two were finally married on February 1st, 1969.


An active man who doesn’t even let his down time become idle time, Gus greatly enjoyed doing things that require skill and dexterity from his hands. Although he enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, playing with his grandkids, vacationing (especially at Lost Valley Lake Resort in Owensville, MO), Gus got extra pleasure from woodcarving, wood-burning, and, as he simply put it, “fixing things.” Before the third shift job at Wal-Mart made it difficult to attend meetings, for a time he belonged to a woodworking and wood-burning club. A handyman if there ever was one, Gus was constantly in demand either in his own home or that of any of his grown children. Without any real formal training, he could perform most any plumbing, wiring, small or large appliance, car or even construction task. He had an innate talent for figuring things out – and to go beyond the manuals to tailor a generic remedy within the specific constraints of the actual job. His expertise has saved the day for himself, his children or his friends on many occasions.


Gus enjoyed traveling, but didn't get the opportunity to do it as much as he would like. As mentioned already, he has been to Germany (Dachau, Munich, Frankfurt) – but he also has been to Canada. Within the United States he has been to Denver; Chicago; Indiana; Minnesota; Las Vegas; Florida; Sparta, Wisconsin; New Orleans; Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and of course to Branson, Missouri.


It is hard to believe, but Gus has been a member at Emmanuel for over forty years, first attending the church after he and Mary moved from St. Ann to St. Peters in 1974. He was first attracted by this “small country church with nice people,” and believed that this overall friendliness still applied today. Though he and Mary were not married here, three fourths of their children were – half of them also experiencing baptism, and all of them confirmation, within the four walls. And of late, even most of the grandkids have gotten baptized here!


In his earlier years, Gus was extremely active at Emmanuel. He served on the Church Council for four years, acting, naturally enough, as trustee most of that time. For several years he cut grass on the cemetery and church grounds; assisted the Board on the trying occasions when the church was seeking a new minister; painted a sign with Mary that for years advertised the church to motorists along Highway 94; taught Sunday School with Mary; cut wood with the then-active Men’s Club; helped place sealant on the parking lot; worked at our fish fries and chicken dinners; attended with Mary a Christian Marriage Encounter weekend retreat; and assisted at innumerable functions, performing countless activities on many occasions. More recently he had helped clean the outside of the Old Hall with power washers; and of course still helped when he could with our annual Sausage Supper.


What was his favorite Emmanuel memory? There were several. Gus fondly remembers the Men’s Club, cutting wood together on church property with Calvin Jaeger, Reverend Roy Sieward and others – some of this wood Gus could take to burn for his own family’s warmth, when he was between jobs and times were hard. There also was the time Reverend Chitty


intervened to get a tractor so that Gus could cut the grass more quickly than with the push mover he had been using. And the many good times and chats he has had with the Nesslages, the Nadlers, and Percy Gillette.


Gus was a good man, with a big heart, generous soul and sparkling good humor. “I try to be a good parent, and helpful and friendly to people,” he said simply. In his own way, he also can be quietly and perceptively eloquent. Gus is already greatly missed by his one true love and best friend Mary, his family and friends, where he always showed an abundance of love, concern and fun loving teasing to all.


Memorial donations may be made to the family for funeral expenses.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gustave “Gus” Tresch, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Thursday, August 24, 2017

4:00 - 8:00 pm (Central time)

Baue O'Fallon, 311 Wood Street, 63366, MO

311 Wood St, O'Fallon, MO 63366

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Visitation

Friday, August 25, 2017

10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)

Emmanuel United Church of Christ, Weldon Spring, MO

6210 MO-94, Weldon Spring, MO 63304

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Funeral Service

Friday, August 25, 2017

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

Emmanuel United Church of Christ, Weldon Spring, MO

6210 MO-94, Weldon Spring, MO 63304

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Inurnment

Emmanuel UCC Cemetery, MO

TBA, TBA,

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