Gus John Klekas, beloved father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, passed away at his home in South Jordan, Utah on March 25, 2009. He fought a courageous battle against esophageal cancer for the past one 1/2 years and appreciated the medical services and care he received that enabled him to live as long as he could.
Gus was born December 8, 1927 in Magna, Utah to John and Wilma Mageras Klekas. He was the fourth of eight children; seven brothers and one sister.
He is survived by his children, Joe (Pam) of South Jordan, Ann (Karl) of Sandy, UT and Chris (Julie) of Elko, NV; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and brothers, Nick, Harry and Bill. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bea; his parents; his sister Irene, and his brothers, Frank, Mike, and Louis.
Gus attended Cyprus High School in Magna, UT and as a Senior helped lead Cyprus to the State Football Championship of 1944.
He was drafted into the military in 1945 and served in the Air Force for 18 months, stationed in the Philippines near the end of World War II. Gus and Bea met in Salt Lake City at Westminster College and were married in January of 1951 in Las Vegas, NV.
After marriage, Gus completed his degree at Westminster where, during his senior year, he served as Student Body President and also lettered in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track & Field. He spent his first year teaching in Hoglan, Montana and then they moved Bishop, CA.
In Bishop, Gus and Bea would raise a family and Gus would teach and coach for the next 34 years, the first two years at the Jr. High in Round Valley and 32 years at Bishop High School. Gus loved coaching, especially basketball and football. He also served as the Athletic Director most of his time at Bishop High.
He didn't believe in cutting players who tried out for his teams, often keeping 20 or more players on a basketball team and approaching 100 players on JV football teams. From 1972 to 1983, his teams set a then state record for 12 consecutive league/region championships in varsity basketball.
His basketball teams at Bishop High qualified for the state play-offs some 30 out of 34 years and played for the Californian Southern Section State 1A Championship on two occasions. He considered all his former players and managers like sons and did his best to instill the attributes of preparation, hard work, discipline and competitiveness.
He loved his association with his fellow coaches, teachers and administrators. He was very proud of the accomplishments his former players achieved after graduation from Bishop High. The community and School District honored him in 1981 when they re-named the High School Gym after him.
He could not have had the success and accomplishments without the loving support of his wife, Bea. Dad loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was proud of every one of them. He loved to support and encourage them in all their activities and goals.
He enjoyed his retirement years with Bea, spending a lot of time in Southern Utah at Zion's National Park and as much time as possible with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy, UT, where friends may call one hour prior to the services.
Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.
There will be an additional memorial service held on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Bishop High, Gus Klekas West Gymnasium, Bishop, CA.
Published in the Deseret News on 3/27/2009.
Gus was born December 8, 1927 in Magna, Utah to John and Wilma Mageras Klekas. He was the fourth of eight children; seven brothers and one sister.
He is survived by his children, Joe (Pam) of South Jordan, Ann (Karl) of Sandy, UT and Chris (Julie) of Elko, NV; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and brothers, Nick, Harry and Bill. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bea; his parents; his sister Irene, and his brothers, Frank, Mike, and Louis.
Gus attended Cyprus High School in Magna, UT and as a Senior helped lead Cyprus to the State Football Championship of 1944.
He was drafted into the military in 1945 and served in the Air Force for 18 months, stationed in the Philippines near the end of World War II. Gus and Bea met in Salt Lake City at Westminster College and were married in January of 1951 in Las Vegas, NV.
After marriage, Gus completed his degree at Westminster where, during his senior year, he served as Student Body President and also lettered in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track & Field. He spent his first year teaching in Hoglan, Montana and then they moved Bishop, CA.
In Bishop, Gus and Bea would raise a family and Gus would teach and coach for the next 34 years, the first two years at the Jr. High in Round Valley and 32 years at Bishop High School. Gus loved coaching, especially basketball and football. He also served as the Athletic Director most of his time at Bishop High.
He didn't believe in cutting players who tried out for his teams, often keeping 20 or more players on a basketball team and approaching 100 players on JV football teams. From 1972 to 1983, his teams set a then state record for 12 consecutive league/region championships in varsity basketball.
His basketball teams at Bishop High qualified for the state play-offs some 30 out of 34 years and played for the Californian Southern Section State 1A Championship on two occasions. He considered all his former players and managers like sons and did his best to instill the attributes of preparation, hard work, discipline and competitiveness.
He loved his association with his fellow coaches, teachers and administrators. He was very proud of the accomplishments his former players achieved after graduation from Bishop High. The community and School District honored him in 1981 when they re-named the High School Gym after him.
He could not have had the success and accomplishments without the loving support of his wife, Bea. Dad loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was proud of every one of them. He loved to support and encourage them in all their activities and goals.
He enjoyed his retirement years with Bea, spending a lot of time in Southern Utah at Zion's National Park and as much time as possible with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy, UT, where friends may call one hour prior to the services.
Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.
There will be an additional memorial service held on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Bishop High, Gus Klekas West Gymnasium, Bishop, CA.
Published in the Deseret News on 3/27/2009.
Gus John Klekas, beloved father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, passed away at his home in South Jordan, Utah on March 25, 2009. He fought a courageous battle against esophageal cancer for the past one 1/2 years and appreciated the medical services and care he received that enabled him to live as long as he could.
Gus was born December 8, 1927 in Magna, Utah to John and Wilma Mageras Klekas. He was the fourth of eight children; seven brothers and one sister.
He is survived by his children, Joe (Pam) of South Jordan, Ann (Karl) of Sandy, UT and Chris (Julie) of Elko, NV; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and brothers, Nick, Harry and Bill. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bea; his parents; his sister Irene, and his brothers, Frank, Mike, and Louis.
Gus attended Cyprus High School in Magna, UT and as a Senior helped lead Cyprus to the State Football Championship of 1944.
He was drafted into the military in 1945 and served in the Air Force for 18 months, stationed in the Philippines near the end of World War II. Gus and Bea met in Salt Lake City at Westminster College and were married in January of 1951 in Las Vegas, NV.
After marriage, Gus completed his degree at Westminster where, during his senior year, he served as Student Body President and also lettered in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track & Field. He spent his first year teaching in Hoglan, Montana and then they moved Bishop, CA.
In Bishop, Gus and Bea would raise a family and Gus would teach and coach for the next 34 years, the first two years at the Jr. High in Round Valley and 32 years at Bishop High School. Gus loved coaching, especially basketball and football. He also served as the Athletic Director most of his time at Bishop High.
He didn't believe in cutting players who tried out for his teams, often keeping 20 or more players on a basketball team and approaching 100 players on JV football teams. From 1972 to 1983, his teams set a then state record for 12 consecutive league/region championships in varsity basketball.
His basketball teams at Bishop High qualified for the state play-offs some 30 out of 34 years and played for the Californian Southern Section State 1A Championship on two occasions. He considered all his former players and managers like sons and did his best to instill the attributes of preparation, hard work, discipline and competitiveness.
He loved his association with his fellow coaches, teachers and administrators. He was very proud of the accomplishments his former players achieved after graduation from Bishop High. The community and School District honored him in 1981 when they re-named the High School Gym after him.
He could not have had the success and accomplishments without the loving support of his wife, Bea. Dad loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was proud of every one of them. He loved to support and encourage them in all their activities and goals.
He enjoyed his retirement years with Bea, spending a lot of time in Southern Utah at Zion's National Park and as much time as possible with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy, UT, where friends may call one hour prior to the services.
Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.
There will be an additional memorial service held on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Bishop High, Gus Klekas West Gymnasium, Bishop, CA.
Published in the Deseret News on 3/27/2009.
Gus was born December 8, 1927 in Magna, Utah to John and Wilma Mageras Klekas. He was the fourth of eight children; seven brothers and one sister.
He is survived by his children, Joe (Pam) of South Jordan, Ann (Karl) of Sandy, UT and Chris (Julie) of Elko, NV; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and brothers, Nick, Harry and Bill. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bea; his parents; his sister Irene, and his brothers, Frank, Mike, and Louis.
Gus attended Cyprus High School in Magna, UT and as a Senior helped lead Cyprus to the State Football Championship of 1944.
He was drafted into the military in 1945 and served in the Air Force for 18 months, stationed in the Philippines near the end of World War II. Gus and Bea met in Salt Lake City at Westminster College and were married in January of 1951 in Las Vegas, NV.
After marriage, Gus completed his degree at Westminster where, during his senior year, he served as Student Body President and also lettered in Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track & Field. He spent his first year teaching in Hoglan, Montana and then they moved Bishop, CA.
In Bishop, Gus and Bea would raise a family and Gus would teach and coach for the next 34 years, the first two years at the Jr. High in Round Valley and 32 years at Bishop High School. Gus loved coaching, especially basketball and football. He also served as the Athletic Director most of his time at Bishop High.
He didn't believe in cutting players who tried out for his teams, often keeping 20 or more players on a basketball team and approaching 100 players on JV football teams. From 1972 to 1983, his teams set a then state record for 12 consecutive league/region championships in varsity basketball.
His basketball teams at Bishop High qualified for the state play-offs some 30 out of 34 years and played for the Californian Southern Section State 1A Championship on two occasions. He considered all his former players and managers like sons and did his best to instill the attributes of preparation, hard work, discipline and competitiveness.
He loved his association with his fellow coaches, teachers and administrators. He was very proud of the accomplishments his former players achieved after graduation from Bishop High. The community and School District honored him in 1981 when they re-named the High School Gym after him.
He could not have had the success and accomplishments without the loving support of his wife, Bea. Dad loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was proud of every one of them. He loved to support and encourage them in all their activities and goals.
He enjoyed his retirement years with Bea, spending a lot of time in Southern Utah at Zion's National Park and as much time as possible with his grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy, UT, where friends may call one hour prior to the services.
Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.
There will be an additional memorial service held on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 7 p.m. at Bishop High, Gus Klekas West Gymnasium, Bishop, CA.
Published in the Deseret News on 3/27/2009.
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