Gust Fernimos

It was on the early morning of Sunday, January 9, 2022 at 12:10 AM, my best friend, companion and husband, of 61 years, Gust Fernimos, age 87 left me for his journey onto heaven as he ascended onto the “Kingdom of God.”

Born to the late Bessie (née Psomopoulos) and Nicholas Fernimos - humble parents from Greece in Detroit on May 20, 1934, being the only son of a family with five sisters. His father came to America at the onset of World I and joined the American Army. His mother Bessie, was from the Peloponnese, Greece. They had an arranged marriage.

Gus, like his father, also joined the United States Army. He served in Korea. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to Detroit and attended Wayne State University to become a teacher. He also received his Master’s Degree majoring in Geography. He taught school in Garden City, Michigan for 45 years and retired at age 72.

On August 20, 1960, he asked for my hand in marriage. I accepted his offer with a full heart! Many years later he asked why I married him? I said, “I married you because you are a man, not a boy!”

Following 61 years of marriage, our time of togetherness has now become a memory as God chose Gus to join those who left before him on to his journey into the Kingdom of God.

He will be dearly missed. Rest in peace, Kosta. You will forever be the love of my life.

Gust is the beloved and devoted husband of 61 years of Mary (née Papastergion) Fernimos; loving father of three children – Nicholas, Basil (Jeannie) and Stephen (Tanya); proud grandfather of Alexis, Collin, Austin, Alec, Trent, Elena and Ava. He is deeply loved and will be greatly missed by sisters, Georgia Photopoulis and Anna Chumley. He is pre-deceased by his sisters, Thelma Bott, Tula Sharrard and Francis Fronimos.

Gus was also very interested in woodworking. He enjoyed creating projects that he could enjoy and working with wood of different densities and grain patterns. He also was an avid reader and enjoyed history.

Friends may visit the Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 South Main Street, Plymouth, Michigan on Sunday, January 16, 2022 from 2:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. Trisagion Service will begin at 6:00 P.M.

Visitation at Church will be on Monday, January 17, 2022 from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the Funeral Service at 11:00 AM at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 3109 Scio Church Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Gust will then be laid to rest at Forest Hill Cemetery in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Those who wish to honor the memory of Gust Fernimos are invited to consider a contribution to the Iconography Project at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 3109 Scio Church Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103.

Contribution envelopes will be available at the Funeral Home.