Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Gus Clark
Gustave “Gus” F. Clark, 71, of rural Augusta, passed away at his home on Sunday, August 24, 2014.
He was named Gustave Franklin Clark, named after his father and grandfather before him. His soul came to earth on Good Friday, April 23, 1943. The first breath for this little body came into his lungs at “the old” Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, WI. A few days later he was carried to a little place overlooking the Dells Mill Pond north of Augusta, WI. And it has been his lifelong home. It was a part of him; the old mill, the land, the pond, the sandstone cliffs, the air, the dam, the country school, the generation of people, the community, children, teenagers, young adults, middle aged to old. He was it and it was him. Totally complete.
Living from cradle to grave in one space is a special benediction which he cherished greatly. Perhaps it was his piece of heaven on earth.
Three Clark brothers married three Svoma sisters in a triple wedding on Sept. 6, 1937 in Cadott, WI. Malin and Mildred, Paul and Elizabeth “Riddy”, Franklin and Bessie (his parents). They were forever best friends and born to the three couples were 8 children. They could not be called sisters and brothers to each other, so they gave their relationship the special label of “double cousins.” Gus was blessed with an older sister Nancy, and growing up the two of them usually or almost always celebrated everything together with the double cousins. He was raised in this tribe. The children came to believe that they had three sets of parents. While their other relatives were important sources of love and support, the cousins came to rely upon one another like brothers and sisters. Gus' family and Paul Clark's family lived together during W.W. II. After the war a second house was built and they lived next door to each other. Their families and the double cousins from Cadott got together almost every weekend and usually at the Dells. Their activities included swimming, fishing, ball games, pretend games, skating, sledding, skiing, and tobogganing, along with cards, monopoly, puzzles, and occasionally movies.
Living on the Dells Mill Pond (north of Augusta) was the focal point for much of their outdoor togetherness. Indoors, they created impromptu musical performances and recitations for their audience made up of parents and visiting relatives. These events remained vivid recollections until this day. The images and associated experiences of Gus' childhood remained the wellspring and inspiration the lingered with him all his life.
Gus attended a one room country school called “The Dells School” for eight grades. Much later he bought that schoolhouse and it is now part of his historical landmark and museum creation endeavor. After Gus graduated from Augusta High School in 1961 he took over the milling operations.
The operation of the Dells Mill by the Clark family spanned four generations. In 1894, Gus' grandfather J. Franklin Clark, along with his brother Robert and their father John Clark purchased the Dells Mill. Nine months later the property was owned by Gus' grandfather Franklin and Gus' great grandfather, Gustave Gessner. In 1939, the mill was passed down to Gus' father, Franklin and Uncle Paul Clark. The two brothers operated the mill until Paul passed away in 1963, and Franklin passed away in 1964, from that point on Gus managed the property and helped in taking care of his mother Bessie and Aunt Riddy.
As Gus started to focus on a way for the mill to survive, he was encouraged to follow his dream. Being interested in history and after a great deal of soul searching and prayer he was led to change the game to historic preservation. The Dells Mill Historical Landmark and museum opened its door to the public for the first time on May 1, 1968, with the season ending November 1. Gus was currently guiding tours and educating the visitors, as he had done for the past 46 years, many of those early years with the help of his mother, Bessie. On Dec. 24, 1974 the Dells Mill was entered on the National Register of Historic Places by the Secretary of the Interior. The mill also became Wisconsin Registered Landmark # 117 at that time.
Gus was baptized at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Bears Grass just west of Augusta. He had been an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in Augusta all of his adult life. He had served on the Board of Elders for many years and sang with the church choir, called the “Men of Grace.” Gus was currently a member of the volunteer community choir, sponsored through the Augusta Senior Center. Gus enjoyed performing with this choir throughout the area at various venues.
Gus will be dearly missed by his sister, Nancy and her husband, William Scobie of Chippewa Falls; 2 nephews, Timothy Scobie and Michelle of Chippewa Falls, Patrick Scobie and Priscilla of Denver, CO; 3 great nieces and 2 great nephews, Alexis, Lauren, Ian, Collin and Cameron Scobie; aunts and uncles, Eleanor and Cyril Amerling of Albany, Oregon, Lois and George Ramharter of Kissimmee, FL; double cousins, John (Jan) Clark of Augusta, Karen Rivers of Siren, Mary Olsen of Merrill, Sally Pfluger of Bella Vista, AR, Toni (Jim) Christenson of Madison, Tom (Mary Ann) Clark of Edina, MN; and many other cousins.
Gus was preceded in death by his father, Franklin on July 2, 1964, and his mother, Bessie on March 13, 1994.
Memorial service will be held Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Augusta, with Pastor Jonathan Wessel officiating. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church. The family would like to suggest that memorials be given to Grace Lutheran Church in Augusta, or to the Grace Lutheran Church Augusta Community Choir.
Friends and family are invited to a gathering at the Dells Mill on Thursday to begin around 5:00 p.m. Supper will be served. We will celebrate Gus’ life here in Augusta and we will celebrate the mill.
