Lieutenant Colonel Austin M. Wilgus, US Army, (Retired)

Lt Colonel Austin Matthew Wilgus, US Army, (Retired), “Gus”, age 88, a resident of The Springs at Happy Valley, OR, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Providence Hospital in Milwaukie, OR surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on 15 June 1936 in Milford, Delaware, the son of Margaret Cashin Wilgus and Austin Stanley Wilgus.

Gus was a 1954 graduate from High School in Suitland Maryland. He studied at the University of Maryland and earned a Master of Arts degree in Health Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1976, as well as a Certificate in Chemical Dependency Counseling from the University of Minnesota.

Colonel Wilgus entered the service in 1957 at Ft. Benning, Georgia, completing Officer Candidate School, earning a US Army Reserve Commission. As an Infantry Officer, he served tours of duty at Forts Bragg, Campbell, Carson and Richardson, in addition to serving overseas in Vietnam, Germany and Korea. He was a Master Parachutist, serving with the 7th Special Forces and the 101st Airborne division.

After retiring from the Army in 1976, Gus spent almost 20 years in the Alcohol/Drug field in MN, KS, and NC. He aided in the recovery of thousands of alcoholics, drug addicts and their families as a Program Director at St. John’s Hospital in Salina, KS and a counselor at Brynn Marr Hospital in Jacksonville, NC and so important, as a member of AA for 51 years!

Gus was a jovial, bright spirited person who enjoyed life. He loved hunting, fishing, skiing, boating, and camping, both tent and trailer. He was extremely proud of his daughters and grandchildren, cheering them on in all their pursuits. He was also an avid college basketball fan, especially the KU Jayhawks.

While living in Emerald Isle, NC, Gus was a member of the Swansboro United Methodist Church for 30 years. He enjoyed singing in the church choir and served on the Pastor-Parish Committee. Gus lived within walking distance from the beach in NC and became a turtle watcher, venturing out every summer morning at 5:30 to look for new turtle nests and make sure they were safe. As Emerald Isle has many tourists in the summertime, he developed an educational turtle nesting program. When a new nest was about to hatch, he was there to teach.

Gus was an amateur historian and genealogist, researching the lineage of both the Wilgus and his wife, Judy’s (Conway) families. He was active in community organizations (Kiwanis, PTA, Ducks Unlimited) and community theater, his most memorable role was that of Charlie, in On Golden Pond.

Gus will be greatly missed by many, but mostly by his loving wife of 64 years, Judy, Happy Valley, OR; daughters, Tracy (Kenton) Wiens, Portland, OR, and Leslie (Mark) Jackson, Baker City, OR; granddaughters, Sadie and Mattie Wiens; and grandsons, Jacob and Harrison Jackson.

A Cemetery Service with full Military Honors will be 2 p.m., Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Willamette National Cemetery 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd, Portland, OR.

The family suggest contributions in his memory be made to your local Salvation Army.