Gus Dewey

Gus Dewey, age 57, of Mankato, died Sunday, January 4, 2004, of complications from the laryngeal cancer that stilled his voice last September. He was born Daniel Gregg Dewey in Mankato, January 19, 1946, the youngest child of Lauren L. and Louise Just Dewey, and lived here his entire life.

The wake will be from 3:30-6:00 Monday, January 5, 2004 at Bandana Brewery, 302 N. Plainview Avenue, in Mankato. Interment will be private, at St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery in Rapidan.

Gus was a career musician, singer and songwriter, active in the music world for more than three decades. His career began in the mid 1960s with The Gestures. He went on to play with City Mouse, The Mary Jane Alm Band and Payday, among others.

The Gestures enjoyed some brief fame for their national hit, Run, Run, Run. They played as the opening act for groups like The Mamas & the Papas and The Turtles, and The Guess Who were once the opening act for The Gestures at a Canadian concert. But it was after that that Guss musicianship grew. As a singer and rhythm guitarist for City Mouse, his voice lent a depth and soul to the rock, country and blues songs the high-energy band performed throughout the midwest.

Guss own compositions included Let Me Down Easy and Kudu, both of which are included on a collection of his material released recently by Two Fish Studios in Mankato. Despite the respect he enjoyed for his musicianship and the enthusiasm that greeted the compilation, Gus remained self-effacing about his music to the end. As his health failed, he had not played the guitar or performed for the past five years. During that time he worked instead for National Bushing & Parts Company in Mankato.

He lived until his death with his long-time companion, Andrea Smith, and his beloved cats, Jackie and Louie. Survivors include his brother, William Dewey and wife, Joyce Aaberg Dewey, of Madison, Wisconsin; his sister, Sally Dewey Heiser and husband, Ronald Heiser, of Mesa, Arizona; nieces and nephews Lisa Dewey Joycechild and husband Bruce Benidt; Mark Dewey, Sarah Dewey Desmond, Anne Dewey Kloss, Jill Heiser Long, and Dan Heiser; and a host of loving friends and music colleagues. He had two marriages, to Cheryl Beacom and Janet Larson, and a daughter, Lara, from his first marriage. His parents, and generations of the cats and dogs he loved, preceded him in death.

Intractable, intelligent, exasperating, sensitive, verbal and fascinating, Gus was also irresistible with his wit, dark humor and big heart. Thirty years of severe alcoholism obscured his native shyness. In early November, though his medical problems made finding a program difficult, he went voluntarily to residential alcohol treatment in the Twin Cities. He returned to Mankato in mid-December to obtain needed medical care, with full intention of completing treatment. Gus lived the last weeks of his life"and died"sober.

Memorials to help defray expenses may be sent to his family.

Mankato Mortuary in charge of arrangements.