Gordon Faust

Gordon Robert Faust, age 92, passed away on July 7, 2025 at Homestead Memory Care Facility, Waunakee, WI. He was the only child born to Robert and Katherine Faust, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, WI on November 9, 1932. Sadly, his mother passed away when he was only 2 years old, so he was raised by his maternal grandmother, Katherine Friedland.

Gordy attended Central High School, Madison, class of 1952. While a senior in high school, he enlisted in the Air Guard, Truax Field, Madison on 1/4/50 and was activated in the Air Force on 2/1/51 before serving in the Korean War. He received several medals, ribbons and honors, and was most proud of the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation presented to him during a trip to South Korea paid by their government. He proudly served for 42 years, retiring as a Master Sergeant on November 9, 1992.

After returning from Korea, he attended U.W.S.P. on the GI Bill, graduating in 1958, with a Conservation Major. He was on the football team, Homecoming Chairman, member of the Inter-Fraternity Council, Lutheran Student Association, scouting fraternity, conservation fraternity, and President of the Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity. He met his future wife, Astrid Wekwert, during his last semester. They were married on August 23, 1958 at Bethel Lutheran Church, Madison.

After graduation, he volunteered for the Phi Sig fraternity by serving as a Regional Director, covering chapters in WI and MN and was a National Vice President. Gordy was also a proud UWSP alumni, serving on the Alumni Board for 25 years, 1984-2009, including President. His work earned him the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004 and the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015.

Gordy began his 34 year career working for the State of WI Department of Transportation immediately after graduation. He began in the Wayside and Landscape Department working out of the Madison central office. In 1961, he transferred to the Wisconsin Rapids District 4 State Office in the Real Estate Department. In 1986, Gordy transferred back to Madison to work in the District 1 State Office as a District Supervisor, moving to Waunakee, WI. While living in Wisconsin Rapids, he also worked part-time for McKay Nursery as a landscape architect, Terry Wolfe Realty after receiving his real estate brokers license, and did appraisal work, while also serving in the Air Force Reserves. After retiring from the DOT in 1992, he worked for SEC Donohue/RUST/Earth Tech in the real estate department until he retired in 2004.

In Wis Rapids, he was a Charter member and President of Grand Rapids Lions Club, Charter member and President of Heart of WI Lions Club, on the Grand Rapids town board, and was an active member of First English Lutheran Church, including President of the Church Council, and Chairman of the Building Committee.

In Waunakee, Gordy was an active member of the Lions Club, serving as President in 1990, Korean War Veterans Association, the American Legion and VFW, including Commander in 1995, and Chairman of the Waunakee Veterans Building Committee. He was a former member of Peace Lutheran Church, a current member of First Presbyterian Church, and served on several Steeplechase Condo committees.

Gordy assisted the South Korean government in issuing the Korean War Service Medal in 1999, to over 132,000 Korean war veterans or their next of kin in 9 states. He also earned All-State Honors twice for his work with the VFW of Dane County. In 2001, he was honored by the Wisconsin State Assembly for his accomplishments on behalf of Korean War veterans.

Gordy was also passionate about educating youth about veterans and the Korean War as a guest speaker in local high schools. For over 20 years, he looked forward to giving presentations and gifting small US flags to his daughter’s Lodi elementary students, participating in Veteran’s Day ceremonies and chaperoning field trips.

It was also important for Gordy to document the biographies of all Wisconsin Korean War veterans who died during their service. After over 10 years of research and travel, he published a book in 2016 titled Wisconsin & Korea’s Forgotten Victory.

Family was extremely important to Gordy, especially since he grew up without his parents. He was our family historian, enjoyed planning family reunions, and attending his grandchildren’s school, sports and family events. He was extremely proud of his grandson, 2nd Lt. Joshua Longmire, graduating from the Air Force Academy, in May, 2024. Gordy loved holidays, especially Christmas and Halloween, decorating the outside of their homes elaborately. He was a Badger football and Green Bay Packers fan, a Packer owner, enjoyed playing cards and was a collector of coins and antiques. He also loved the outdoors as he enjoyed feeding birds, gardening, landscaping, fishing, and deer hunting, especially every fall at his favorite place, the Lance family cottage on Lake Newton. Gordy and Astrid were fortunate to have traveled to all 50 states, and internationally to England, Scotland, Germany, Austria, France, Poland, Norway, South Korea and take several cruises. He was especially honored to travel on the Badger Honor Flight on 5/18/13 as a Korean War Veteran.

Gordy is survived by his wife of 66 years, Astrid Faust, four children; Katherine Faust, Jennifer Faust-Steele (James), Brian Faust (Julie) and Karen Longmire (Michael), six grandchildren; Matthew Van Rixel (Kim), Joshua Longmire (fiancée Megan Merryman), Adam Longmire, Jacob Faust, Olivia Longmire, and Hannah Faust, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and best friend/Phi Sig brother, Bob Hanes.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church 5763 County Rd Q Waunakee, followed by Military rites. Friends may call at the church on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will take place in the Vienna Cemetery.

The family would like to thank Agrace Hospice, especially Nikki and Mary Jo, and the Homestead staff for their compassionate care, Dr. Lucas Kuehn and Dr. William Ranum for his care for over 30 years, as well as Colonel A.J. (Darrel) Feucht for his weekly visits.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Agrace or First Presbyterian Church.

Please share your memories of Gordon by posting in his guestbook.

Winn-Cress Funeral Home

5785 Hwy Q

Waunakee, WI