GENESEO — Franklin Dean Gustus, 80, died Jan. 7 at Sandstone Heights Nursing Home, Little River. He was born July 17, 1933  at Geneseo, the son of Cyril and Olive Roby Gustus. He was a lifetime Geneseo resident.
He was employed at Lyons Mfg. Co., was owner of Gustus Machine Co., Gustus Mfg. Co.; Gustus Backhoe & Tank Service and JD Production.  He recently was the owner of the Geneseo Mini-Mart 3. He attended the Geneseo School System and was the Geneseo fire chief for 34 years, served on the Ricedco Board, mayor of Geneseo, Geneseo City Council member, Geneseo Golf Club and Lions Club of Geneseo.
He married Leah Jane Kindle on March 20, 1954 at Lyons. She died on March 15, 2011.  
He is survived by two daughters, Patricia “Patty” Beagley and Carolyn and Mike Kratzer of Geneseo;  grandchildren, Curtis Beagley, Brooke Beagley, Ashlea Beagley, Dean Beagley, Jennifer Deneault, Callie Gustus and Haddie Gustus; great-grandchildren, Colby Beagley, Sadie Beagley, Kameryn Gustus, Stephen Gustus, Zoee Gustus, Rebecca Deneault; step-grandchildren, Ashley Gretencord, Laura Kratzer and Alyza Gretencord; and brother, Dale Gustus, Geneseo.
Mr. Gustus was preceded in death by son, Michael Dean Gustus; wife, Jane; brothers, Cliff and Don Gustus; and one infant sister, Joyce.
Funeral services are at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons with the Rev. Robert Friesen officiating. Burial is at Geneseo Cemetery.
Visitation is from 2– 7 p.m. on Friday with family receiving friends from 5–7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Geneseo American Legion, Geneseo United Methodist Church or Sandstone Heights Nursing Home in care of the funeral home.
 Funeral arrangements provided by
Birzer Funeral Home*
214 West Ave. South
Lyons, KS 67554
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Jan. 8, 2014