Mary Gust Bytwerk

Although she accomplished so much of which to be proud, Mary Gust Bytwerk was a humble woman whose heart beat to love, serve and care for others. She was an active part of the community she called home throughout her entire life, and she was the sort of person whom everyone seemed to know. Blessed to find love not once, but twice, Mary treasured being a wife and mother, but she just may have argued that nothing was better than being Nana to her precious grandchildren. Accompanied by an unwavering faith, Marys quiet strength and courageous spirit were truly an inspiration to everyone she met. She will be deeply missed while her memory is forever cherished by all who were blessed to be within her reach. The 1930s were some of the most trying days we have witnessed due to the unrelenting grip of the Great Depression, but the American spirit continued to burn, as the nation continued taking forward steps. We were so proud of the completion of both the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building while Mt. Rushmore continued to take shape. Cities, communities, and families came together to help each other weather the storm of these trying days. It was also during this time that Dr. Delavan and Dagmar (Oberg) Foote were delighted with the birth of their baby girl on April 1, 1939, in Muskegon, Michigan. Raised in the family home on Moulton Avenue in North Muskegon alongside her older sister, Kathryn, and her younger sister, Nancy, Mary Curtis was the middle of three girls in her family. Her father, the 1st DO in Muskegon, was a doctor at Muskegon General Hospital while her mother was a homemaker. In many ways Mary was a young girl of her generation. She had a wonderful childhood filled with summer vacations at the Foote family cottage on White Lake, playing in local & state tennis tournaments with her sisters, and spending time with her extensive network of friends who remained friends throughout her entire life. Mary learned to play the piano and later the oboe, and she attended North Muskegon Public Schools where she was also a cheerleader. Her mother was a gifted seamstress who passed her sewing skills on to Mary. She and her family attended First Congregational Church. It was while in junior high that Mary met the young man who would change the course of her life forever. His name was Courtney Aloysious Gust, Jr., and they began dating. After graduating from high school Mary was awarded a music scholarship to University of Denver where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, the highly esteamed choir and cheerleader. Two years later she transferred to Michigan State University to be closer to family. During the summers she waited tables at the Galleon Restaurant in Whitehall. Over time, her relationship with Courtney grew more serious, and with a desire to establish a life together Mary and Courtney were married on September 3, 1960. Together they welcomed three children including Birgitta, Greg, and Courtney III. They were also blessed to have nephew Teddy, as part of their big happy family. Courtney worked in his familys successful dry cleaning business while Mary taught piano lessons out of her home. The Gust family purchased the house Mary grew up in from her mother. They were a close family who loved spending time together. Sunday was family day and they were often out boating on Muskegon Lake, having picnics on the beach, or water skiing. During the winter the Gusts enjoyed snowmobiling, ice fishing and snow skiing. Spring break usually found them taking an annual road trip to Florida to visit relatives. Mary and her children regularly enjoyed doing things with very special North Muskegon friends. As someone who enjoyed taking new things on, Mary and Courtney purchased a local store called The Yankee Peddler in the early 1970s, and she transformed it into one of Muskegons best ladies clothing stores. Mary had an amazing sense of style, which was reflected throughout the store. She and Courtney loved going to Chicago for their annual buying trips, and Mary successfully owned and operated the store, which was well loved by both employees and patrons alike, for over 30 years before she sold the business. Mary was involved in her community in other ways as well including as a member of the Greater Muskegon Service League for over 50 years. She was also active in both the First Congregational Church and Forest Park Covenant Church as well as a supporter of local arts and music programs. In addition, Mary formed a trust for her family's gifted Root Memorial Park in the City of Muskegon years ago. A true caretaker at heart, much of Marys time was focused on caring for Courtney during his ten year battle with cancer before his death in 1997. She drew strength from her faith and her family during this time, and she was especially thrilled to become a grandmother to the grandchildren she adored. It was always hard to tell who enjoyed their visits more, Mary or her grandchildren! A few years later, Mary was introduced to a widower named John Bytwerk who also played tennis as she had continued to do. A dating relationship soon followed, and after falling in love they eloped on a trip to Maine in October of 2001. Soon after, Mary sold the store, which gave them more time to spend together. They both loved traveling, and among their favorite destinations were Sweden, the Netherlands, and Spain, often riding bicycles from town to town. Mary and John also drove across the country in their motor home and went on several cruises. They enjoyed wintering in Palm Springs, California, where they had many friends. Mary truly embraced all of John's beautiful family in every way. When John faced a battle with cancer, she was there to care for him, too. They shared seven wonderful years together until his death in 2007. Mary continued to lead an active social life within her community and with friends despite facing a few health challenges of her own. In 2003, Mary had emergency surgery to repair a ruptured heart aneorism. It was truly a miracle that she survived and we were all blessed to be able to have her for 12 additional years. All who knew Mary Curtis Foote Gust Bytwerk would agree that she touched others in such a special way. Mary was full of dignity and grace. She was a successful businesswoman, an active part of her community, and an empowering role model to everyone she met, but it will be her unending love for her family that will be her lasting legacy. We are all better off having known her and she will never be forgotten. Mary Curtis (Foote-Gust) Bytwerk died on February 13, 2015. Marys family includes her daughter, Birgitta Gust Romaniello (Michael) Boynton; sons, Gregory Miller Gust, Courtney Aloyious (Teri) Gust III; son/nephew Edward "Ted" Seavash (Erin) Jahanshahi; sisters, Kathryn Kitching (Norman), Nancy Poll (Ray); step children, Susan Bytwerk (Fred) Cooper, Bruce (Luanne) Bytwerk, Janice Bytwerk (Lauren) TenKate; grandchildren, Nicholas, Katherine, & Benjamin Romaniello, Courtney, Chelsea, Aaron, Austin, & Kenneth Boynton, Jamison, Alexandra, & Dakota Gust, Brett Koch, Cameron, & Carter Gust, Courtney, Tyler, & Caroline Jahanshahi; step grandchildren, David & Steve Medendorp, Becky & Dan Stout, Holly Zimmerman, Kristen Cooper, Jason Cooper, Jennifer & Melissa, & Heidi TenKate, Ben, Bethany, Nick & Noah Bytwerk; 7 great grandchildren; and numerous friends. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Delavan Miller Foote & Dagmar Svea Wilhelmina Oberg Foote, and husbands, Courtney Aloysious Gust, Jr. and John E Bytwerk. Services will be held on Monday, February 23, 2015, 12:00 noon at Forest Park Covenant Church. Interment in Laketon Township Cemetery. Visit with Marys family and friends on Sunday, February 22, 2015, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. & Sunday, February 22, 2015, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorials can be made to Greater Muskegon Women & Children's Fund.