Gorden “Gus” Gwilt
May 13th, 1938 - May 10th, 2025
Share Book of Memories with a Friend
Please enter the name and email details so that we can send your friend a link to the online tribute. No names or addresses will be collected by using this service.
Gus's Obituary
Gorden “Gus” Gwilt, 86, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville, MI.
Gus was born May 13, 1938, in Dowagiac, the 16th and last child of his mother, Edna (McCoy) Gwilt and the 9th and last child of Thomas J. Winchester. Gus graduated from Cassopolis High School in 1956. He played football and baseball and was a member of Future Farmers of America all four years. After graduating high school, Gus enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Gus married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth (Betty) Lemke on June 13, 1959, in Dowagiac. Betty preceded him in death after a long illness in 1991.
Gus worked at several mobile home companies in the Elkhart area, retiring as a Line Supervisor after many years. Gus was an avid outdoorsman, spending hours on his own farm property, chopping wood to heat his farmhouse until a few years ago. He loved to tinker with old cars, trucks and farm equipment. He enjoyed and was excellent at bowling, mushroom hunting, skeet shooting, hunting and fishing. Gus was a proud citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, as an Elder and serving with the Ogitchedaw. He was honored to receive his Spirit name in October.
Surviving are his three daughters - Jeri (Stuart) Harp, Cathy (Ron) Stone, and Sherrie (Ron) Ledbetter; nine grandchildren - Amelia, Ian and Sarah Harp, Erica, Chase and Ethan Stone and David, Ryan and Elizabeth Ledbetter; twelve great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his wife who he married in 1992 – Dorothy (Reynolds) Maidens; four step-children - Ted (Win) Maidens, Holly (Don) Bradley, Amy (John) Folsom and Tobias Maidens; five more grandchildren – Erin, Emily, Jacob, Connor and Owen; with four additional great-grandchildren; and many beloved Winchester family members of which he was especially fond.
Preceding him in death were his parents; all his half-brothers and half-sisters from both the Gwilt and Winchester families.
Gus will be remembered as being kind, humble and giving selflessly of anything he had. Though he is no longer with us, the lessons and memories he leaves behind will forever be a part of the lives he touched. Memorial contributions in Gus’ name may be directed to a charity of one’s choice.
Friends, family and loved ones of Gus are welcome to join in celebrating his life on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Clark Chapel - Starks Family Funeral Homes, 405 Center St, Dowagiac. The family will receive guests from 12:00 p.m. until the Celebration of Life at 1:00 p.m. Private family inurnment will be in Dewey Cemetery, Dillman Rd at a later date. Please visit Gus’ personalized webpage to share a memory or leave a condolence to his family at www.clarkch.com.
Gus was born May 13, 1938, in Dowagiac, the 16th and last child of his mother, Edna (McCoy) Gwilt and the 9th and last child of Thomas J. Winchester. Gus graduated from Cassopolis High School in 1956. He played football and baseball and was a member of Future Farmers of America all four years. After graduating high school, Gus enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Gus married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth (Betty) Lemke on June 13, 1959, in Dowagiac. Betty preceded him in death after a long illness in 1991.
Gus worked at several mobile home companies in the Elkhart area, retiring as a Line Supervisor after many years. Gus was an avid outdoorsman, spending hours on his own farm property, chopping wood to heat his farmhouse until a few years ago. He loved to tinker with old cars, trucks and farm equipment. He enjoyed and was excellent at bowling, mushroom hunting, skeet shooting, hunting and fishing. Gus was a proud citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, as an Elder and serving with the Ogitchedaw. He was honored to receive his Spirit name in October.
Surviving are his three daughters - Jeri (Stuart) Harp, Cathy (Ron) Stone, and Sherrie (Ron) Ledbetter; nine grandchildren - Amelia, Ian and Sarah Harp, Erica, Chase and Ethan Stone and David, Ryan and Elizabeth Ledbetter; twelve great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his wife who he married in 1992 – Dorothy (Reynolds) Maidens; four step-children - Ted (Win) Maidens, Holly (Don) Bradley, Amy (John) Folsom and Tobias Maidens; five more grandchildren – Erin, Emily, Jacob, Connor and Owen; with four additional great-grandchildren; and many beloved Winchester family members of which he was especially fond.
Preceding him in death were his parents; all his half-brothers and half-sisters from both the Gwilt and Winchester families.
Gus will be remembered as being kind, humble and giving selflessly of anything he had. Though he is no longer with us, the lessons and memories he leaves behind will forever be a part of the lives he touched. Memorial contributions in Gus’ name may be directed to a charity of one’s choice.
Friends, family and loved ones of Gus are welcome to join in celebrating his life on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Clark Chapel - Starks Family Funeral Homes, 405 Center St, Dowagiac. The family will receive guests from 12:00 p.m. until the Celebration of Life at 1:00 p.m. Private family inurnment will be in Dewey Cemetery, Dillman Rd at a later date. Please visit Gus’ personalized webpage to share a memory or leave a condolence to his family at www.clarkch.com.
Service Details
View the current service details below. Sign up for email or text updates to receive notifications of any changes to service schedules or important information.