Lysle Arthur Gust

Lysle Arthur Gust, aka ""Papa Lysle"", 85, a retired oil and gas executive, died September 1 peacefully at home in Littleton, Colorado. The son of Art and Anna Gust, he was born in North Kansas City, Missouri. Following several years in Dallas, Texas, he moved to Colorado and graduated from Denver East High School. He earned a chemical engineering degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While at Colorado, he was a member of the Acacia Fraternity and discovered the joy of skiing. Gust taught himself to ski on the state's original ski tow at Berthoud Pass and treasured the memory of staying at the now submerged site of the Old Dillon Inn, which is now covered by Dillon Reservoir. Following graduation, he joined Carter Oil Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma as an engineer. In 1954 he was drafted into the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, as a petroleum lab specialist. While in the Army, Gust became an avid football and softball player. He was discharged in late 1955 and joined Exxon Oil Company and moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where he met the love of his life, Barbara Ellen Hutchins. His career in oil and gas exploration took Lysle and Barbara to Peru, New Orleans, and Wichita, before returning to Colorado and settling in Littleton. He was active in the University of Colorado Buff Club, Bow Mar South community, Colorado Republican party and The Cove at Grant Ranch. Lysle was known as the salt of the earth, ever ready to help anyone at a moment's notice. A devout and committed CU Buffs football fan, Gust could be found in section 218, row 65 of Folsom Field at the beginning to see Ralphie's Run, and to the bitter end of even the most lopsided losses through snow, rain, high wind and broiling sun for the past 42 years. In that 42-year span, he only missed one game and that was to attend an Ole Miss game at the request of Barbara. Gust was an accomplished skier and raced regularly in the early years of the First Interstate Cup Pro-Am at Winter Park, where he was a member of the 1987 championship team. He spent the past 50 years skiing the Vail Valley with family and friends. Among his favorite activities, taking his grandchildren skiing on spontaneous powder days. Lysle is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Barbara, son Art, daughter-in-law Carolyn, grandchildren Dylan, Erin and Caitlin, and sister, Mayme Sowell, of Georgetown, SC. Lysle was preceded in death by his parents. A committed ceremony will be held Friday, September 9, 2016 at 9 a.m. at the Fort Logan National Cemetary, Pavilion A, located at 3698 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver, Colorado 80235. Following the burial, a celebration of life memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel at 3101 South Wadsworth Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the University of Colorado football scholarship fund. Please feel free to leave memories of Lysle and condolences for the family by signing the guestbook below.