HAVRE DAILY NEWS
Dec 14, 1988
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Eugene W. Gussenhoven
LEWISTON, Ida. - Eugene William Gussenhoven, founder of Gussenhoven
Plumbing at Lewiston, died Friday morning at his Lewiston home after a long
battle with cancer. He was 78.
He established Gussenhoven Plumbing at Lewiston in 1954 with the
purchase of Philipi Plumbing and Heating and continued to operate the business
with three of his sons until retiring in 1975.
He moved to Lewiston in 1942 and was employed by Potlatch Corp. In the
years from 1942 to 1954, he advanced to the position of master mechanic and
supervised the installation and maintenance of the new pulp and paper plant
there.
He was born Sept. 9, 1910, at Havre, Mont., the youngest of 10 children
of Joseph and Susan Monger Gussenhoven. He attended St. Jude’s Elementary
School and Loyola High School at Los Angeles and graduated from Havre High
School in 1928.
He also studied chemical engineering at Notre Dame University.
He and Mary Esther Dickinson, also of Havre, were married in 1934.
After his retirement, the Gussenhovens moved to their home at Peck,
which had been built over the years on weekends with the help of their
children.
The decade between 1975 and 1985 allowed him to pursue his hobbies,
which included woodworking and the raising of non-indigenous hardwood trees.
He loved the outdoors.
In 1985, the Gussenhovens returned to Lewiston.
The Gussenhovens also enjoyed traveling in retirement and they visited
both the eastern and western parts of the United States, plus Holland and South
Africa. During their travels, they visited their children and researched the
genealogy of the Gussenhoven family.
He was also an avid amateur photographer and his family said he
documented well the Gussenhoven family life and the world around him.
He was active in the communitythroughout his life. He served as
president of the Community Concert Association and was a member of the board of
directors of the Knights of Columbus at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.
He also served on the board of his father’s business, Gussenhoven Lumber
and Real Estate of Havre. He was president of the company from 1956 until 1980.
Survivors include his wife at their Lewiston home; seven children, Susan
Shea of Boston, Mass., Rosalind Della Maggiora of San Jose, Calif., Peter of
Lewiston, Frank of Gaborone, Botswana, Africa, C. Jo of Coeur d’Aiene, Wifflam
of Zweiuecken, West Germany, and Paul of New York City; a brother, John, of
Kennewick, Wash.; 17 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A son, David, died previously.
Rosay was recited Nov. 28 at Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home at Lewiston.
Funeral Mass was said Nov. 29 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.
Burial was at Normal Hill Cemetery.
Rev. Father John Morse, S.J., officiated. Vocalist was Kris MeKarcher.
Organist was Catherine Dillon.
Pallbearers were David Della Maggiora, Michael Della Maggiora, Eugene P.
Gussenhoven, Steven Gussenhoven, Richard Gussenhoven and Eugene M. Gussenhoven.
Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
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