Gus Herbert Achterberg

Gus Herbert Achterberg was born on April 20, 1944, to Herb and Alice Achterberg of Benton Harbor, Michigan. Like many Americans born between 1941 and 1945, Gus had family, including his father, serving our country in World War II. When Gus was born, his dad was stationed in England, and they did not meet each other until Gus was 18 months old. Their meeting drew the attention of their community and was featured in a local newspaper.

Born into a family of Christian parents and grandparents, Gus went to church from his earliest days. At age 10, he recognized the spiritual need of his own heart and accepted Christ as his Savior at Clay Street Baptist Church in Benton Harbor, Michigan. After a Sunday evening service, he told his Uncle Art, “I need to get saved.” Gus already knew God’s plan of salvation, so his uncle directed him to pray. Gus did just that, placing his trust in Christ alone for forgiveness of his sin and to receive God’s gift of eternal life.

Gus was the oldest of three siblings, and together with beloved cousins, he enjoyed happy family times that he recalled all his life. He treasured time with his grandparents and at his aunt and uncle’s farm. He loved to drive by cherished places—homes, churches, businesses, various sites, and especially the St. Joseph North and South Piers—to reminisce verbally if people were present or to reflect privately and hold memories dear.

The family moved from Benton Harbor to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Gus graduated from Loy Norrix High School in 1962. He took his first job that summer, working night shift on the wrapper and packer line at KVP-Sutherland Paper Company. He was awarded a four-year scholarship to Western Michigan University and completed one year before deciding to pursue Christian education at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minnesota. After one semester, he came back to Kalamazoo and was employed by Lambooy Label & Wrapper Company, working in the office.

During this time, he met Juanita Ann Fisher at church, and the two were married on August 21, 1965. Lambooy moved the couple to Terre Haute, Indiana, where Gus was able to take advantage of access to Indiana State University and complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. After a short stint in Racine, Wisconsin, and a position at Freeman Footwear, Gus was hired by Northern Engraving in La Crosse, Wisconsin. During their La Crosse years, daughter, Julie, and son, Paul, were added to the family. Northern Engraving moved them to Sparta, Wisconsin, and Gus felt a growing interest in sales. In 1980, a sales job at AMP Inc. brought the family to North Carolina where they settled in Kernersville. About a year later, he returned to Northern Engraving, this time as an industrial sales representative with a territory assignment of the Southeastern United States and Puerto Rico. He remained in this role until his retirement.

Gus loved music. He began playing trombone in 5th grade and participated in marching bands both in high school and college. He carried that interest into his adult life, playing in church ensembles. He also loved to sing solos and was part of church choirs, vocal groups, and duets. For 26 years, he sang bass in the yearly presentation of Handel’s Messiah with the Winston-Salem Mozart Club. In the 1980s, he was Commander in the AWANA children’s ministry of Kerwin Baptist Church of Kernersville, and in recent years, he was active with The Gideons International, serving two years as president of his local camp. He would carry gospel tracts in his shirt pocket and strike up conversations with anyone, always ready to share the good news of Jesus.

He was an avid reader and lover of history. Once asked if he preferred fiction or nonfiction, he quickly named nonfiction because real lives were so fascinating to him. He was a collector of what he called “VITAL trivia,” knowing that many of the random facts he knew were not vital to everyday life at all. He was definitely the guy you wanted on your team if playing Trivial Pursuit™.

Gus had a sense of humor and kept his family (and himself) laughing. He would become amused while telling a story, and listeners would end up laughing before the story was even finished because he was so funny in telling it. He could remember names of people, old phone numbers, car models, and had many interesting experiences in work and life, meeting famous individuals or discovering connections between people and places. These things delighted him, and he could retain them, often recounting them in one of his stories. Over time, with so many stories, he began to tease that they were numbered: “This is story number…”

His joyful outlook was habitual, and he wasn’t known to complain even in difficult times. Particularly in his latter years, his attention was on heaven, often posting on social media about his expectation of Jesus’ return and challenging others to be ready to meet the Lord. Two days before he died, he said: “You do what you have to do [referring to medical treatments], but I’m ready [referring to eternity].” He was ready. On May 20, 2025, Gus went to his forever home with Jesus, the Savior he had trusted over 70 years before. His faith became sight.

Gus was preceded in death by his parents, Herb and Alice Achterberg; sister, Joy Achterberg Bunkowske; and brother-in-law Bruce Fisher. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Juanita Ann Fisher Achterberg; daughter, Julie (Jon) Corbett; son, Paul (Sandra) Achterberg; grandchildren, Sienna, Keith, and Mason; brother Bob (Nancy) Achterberg; brother-in-law Larry Bunkowske; brother-in-law Dennis Fisher, sister-in-law Barbara Fisher; nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family, and church family at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

If Gus could be described in one word, it would be the word “unique.” He was a vibrant, friendly, funny man who loved God and loved life, and he will be greatly missed. We who remain are happy for him! What wonders and joyful reunions he must be experiencing in heaven right now! Those who know the Lord will join him one day. Will you be there?

Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, 890 Walkertown Guthrie Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. Visitation will be from 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM with a celebration of life service at 2:30 PM. Burial will be in Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in his memory may be made to The Gideons International.