WESTFIELD: 
August R. (“Gus”) Brus was born in Westfield, Massachusetts in 1923, the son of Augustine and Caroline (Rehak) Brus. He moved to New York City with his parents in 1931, and graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1939. In 1940, he returned to Westfield to enter into the Springfield Armory apprentice toolmaker program. Gus was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II and served in the Pacific Theater on the Marianas Islands with the 20th Air Force, 313th Bomb Wing, 72nd Air Service Group. During the War he was an armament systems technician on B-29 bombers.Upon discharge from the service in 1946, Gus returned to Massachusetts to complete his apprenticeship. He then attended Northeastern University’s Springfield evening division, where he graduated with a degree in engineering and business in 1953 and became a registered professional engineer. In 1948, Gus married the former Evelyn Rose Artioli of Springfield, Massachusetts. Gus and Evelyn had three children – Mark, Wendy, and Eric. Gus worked at the Springfield Armory until its closure in 1967, ending as manager of production engineering. He joined General Electric (G.E.) in 1967, and relocated to Pittsfield in 1970, retiring in 1985. He and Evelyn were able to enjoy socializing with friends and traveling together in the years following his retirement. Gus had a lifelong interest in aviation, and was a private pilot and an avid hobbyist. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, National Woodcarvers Association, and the U.S. Revolver Association for many years. In October 2005, he relocated to Seabury in Bloomfield, Connecticut, and returned to Westfield, in 2008. Gus remained in his Westfield home – which had been built by his late brother John Filo – until his death. Throughout his life, Gus was devoted to his family, beginning with his parents, brothers, and sisters. He was the primary caregiver for his beloved wife Evelyn for many years before her death from Parkinson’s disease in late 2008. He was also a primary caregiver for his older brother John Filo during the several years before John passed away in 2014. Among his family members and many friends, Gus was a thoughtful man, known for his gregariousness, loyalty, and practicality – the kind of guy you can depend on to do the right thing and who you can rely on in a pinch. Gus leaves his children Mark, Wendy, and Eric, and their partners, Karen, Dan, and Dave, respectively; as well as his treasured twin grandchildren, Mikayla and Conner. He also leaves a sister Elizabeth of Astoria, NY, and brother Robert of Jackson, NJ. Besides his wife Evelyn and brother John, he is pre-deceased by his sister Anna and brother Charles. Gus will be interred in a private ceremony on June 15, 2016 at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. A memorial service for family, friends, and associates will be held on June 20, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Atonement, 36 Court Street, Westfield, Massachusetts, followed by a reception at Gus’s home. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the Noble Visiting Nurses and Hospice, and Caring Solutions Home Nursing care for their compassionate care of Gus in his final weeks. In lieu of flowers, contributions to The American Heart Association, The American Parkinson’s Disease
