Baxter Funeral Home
Rodney Lee Gust, "ROD", passed away 23 December 2023, at home in Alta, Wyoming, after a courageous battle with cancer, he was 71 years old.
Born 19 December 1952, in Portland, Oregon to Lloyd & Barbara Gust
Rod moved to Teton Valley upon completion of his military service in 1974, where he fell in love with Teton Valley and stayed the rest of his life. He met his wife Jil Green in 1975, married in 1980, and spent the next 43 years of adventure together.
Rod & Jil spent a decade in California working for Patagonia and becoming an independent builder/carpenter. Their 2 sons, Brandon & Devin were born there, but moved back to Alta in 1994, where they would spend the rest of their lives.
Skier, mountaineer, hunter, fisherman, explorer, adventurer, rancher, and boat captain. An original "MacGyver", Rod could figure out a solution to any problem and fix it, saving the day. Rod became a general building contractor, building many private homes and businesses.
Rod loved America and was very active in the American Legion, serving his fellow veterans whenever called upon.
Rod was a true leader in the recovery family that he so cherished. Before the pandemic and the beginnings of Zoom meetings, Rod hosted a Friday night phone call for the newly recovered. That consistent tie-in-to support community was essential to a great many people. He always had a pertinent topic and kind words of advice to share, often from a thought provoking book or article he had just read. After the pandemic he still hosted a weekly zoom meeting making any geographical barrier disappear.
Rod would go to great lengths to make people feel included, valued and never shamed by their previous addictions. He dedicated himself to the study of human thinking and addiction and passing along anything that he thought would help. It has often been noticed in addiction recovery that the time it takes between someone needing help, and wanting to help others, is very short. Rod was an example of that. He aided many people in their journey and "led by example" in striking fashion.
Rod wore many hats during his years at St Francis of the Tetons Episcopal Church. He served on the Vestry for many years, which included 1 year as Junior Warden and 5 years as Senior Warden. He served faithfully on the Worship and Building & Grounds Committees as well as volunteering to manage projects on the property. He cherished his time spent as a Worship Leader, Preacher and Eucharistic Minister. His faithful service not only to God, but also to the church family at St. Francis, serves as an affirmation of his Christian faith.
Illness saw him not seeking a rocking chair, but rather a 30ft. Ranger Tug cruising boat to navigate the inside passage of Alaskan waters, fearless all the way. While he practiced "Leave no Trace" in Nature, he certainly left his special marks on many hearts and will be missed.
Survived by his wife Jil, sons Brandon and Devin, daughter in law Roxanne and grandchildren Emma and Carson, two sisters Toni McKeel and Carla Nordlinder. Also a bounty of extended family, friends, church friends and all the people he touched in his journey to sobriety for over a decade... and Dan, his faithful dog who comforted him to the very end.
This summer on 20 July 2024, services will be held at St Francis of the Teton Episcopal Church in Alta, Wyoming. Followed by a celebration of his remarkable life at the Aspen Leaf Ranch in Alta, Wyoming.
LINKS
Jackson Hole News & Guide
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com
Teton Valley News
http://www.tetonvalleynews.net
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