N. N. “Gus” Erickson Maj USAF (Ret)

N. N. “Gus” Erickson Maj USAF (Ret)

Age 88

The Lord called His good and faithful servant, Norris Norman “Gus” Erickson, home on May 30, 2021.

Born on June 1, 1932, Norris was the son of Albert Calmar Erickson and Florence Price Erickson of Burr Oak Iowa. He joined his sister, Shirley Ruth on the family farm in Hesper Township, Winneshiek County near Burr Oak. Norris began his education in a one room schoolhouse, Hesper Township #4, just outside of Burr Oak. Due to the distance from the farm to the high school in Decorah, Norris lived with locals in Decorah during the week and returned home to the farm on the weekends giving him a vast experience with both country and city living. Continuing his education at Iowa State University, Norris acquired the nickname “Gus”, which was how he was known by friends from then on. Gus joined ROTC and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education in 1954.

ROTC led Gus to his 20+ years of military service beginning with his active duty with the US Air Force several months after graduation at Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio.  Anticipating a four year deployment to Europe, Gus Erickson and Linda J. Drake were married December 27, 1958. Gus was stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, where daughter, Wendy Lynn was born in 1961. Having returned stateside, daughter, Tracy Lynn (1964), and son, Todd Albert (1967) joined the family. After several other deployments Gus was deployed to Vietnam in 1968-69. He served as an intelligence officer throughout his career and after Vietnam returned to Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska, serving as a Protocol Officer until he retired from the USAF in 1975. As a civilian, Gus became a broker for Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. Gus and Linda divorced in 1987.

Gus’ devotion to community service began early with his involvement with 4H. As an adult Gus reignited that same passion serving as a board member on the Sarpy County Extension Board. He also assisted with the creation of the Sarpy County Extension Foundation helping to support 4-H activities for young people across the county. Continuing his community service Gus was elected to the Bellevue City Council and served from 2000-2008, including two years as council president. Following his service to the Bellevue City Council Gus was elected to serve as a commissioner with the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District where he worked to protect and enhance Nebraska’s natural resources. In 2009-2013, Gus joined the Bellevue Mayor’s Drug and Alcohol Prevention Commission as a member and served as president. He also participated as a board member and an ambassador for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce continuously promoting the community he loved.

Gus Erickson’s association with Kiwanis became a devotion to improve the lives of the children of the world. Through Kiwanis, Gus made lifelong friends and it was through Kiwanis that he met the woman who brought a new joy into his life and a sparkle to his eyes. Having been introduced by a mutual friend at a Kiwanis International Convention, the life of Gus and Jane would be forever connected. Norris ‘Gus’ Erickson and Jane M. Andrews (Moritz) were joined in marriage December 7, 1996, in Bellevue NE. Gus’ family and his love instantly grew to include two step daughters, Erica Marie and Sarah Ann. Soon the family grew even more with in laws: Dan (Tracy) Rynders, Eric (Erica Moritz) Loerts, Mark (Sarah Moritz) Schau, Kristie (Todd) Erickson, and grandchildren Josh and Nate Rynders, Alex, Sam and Zachary Loerts, and Gavin and Maya Schau.

Gus’ life was full of activity and adventure. He enjoyed beginning his day by feeding and watering their backyard birds (especially their favorite cardinals), grabbing a cup of coffee and two cookies and chatting with Jane, then sitting quietly and reading every word of the newspaper. After that he enjoyed working on his find-a-word puzzles, reading fact-filled magazines, especially those related to patriotism, country living, farm life, tractors, and Iowa. Gus was eager to watch ball games of any kind, especially Todd’s baseball games and later, the baseball, soccer, basketball, and softball games of grandchildren Gavin and Maya. Gus always said he taught Jane many things while watching sports during their 27 years together.

Gus was a major fan of the Kansas City Chiefs Football and Kansas City Royals baseball, Nebraska football and volleyball, and was a decade’s long season ticket holder for the men’s NCAA College World Series baseball delighting in sharing those experiences with Jane, family and friends. He never backed down during spirited conversations about any of his teams and supported each team no matter the circumstances.

Kiwanis activities provided an opportunity for Gus to work on behalf of Nebraska and Iowa children and communities as he served in each leadership capacity from the Bellevue-Offutt club level all the way to the district level. He served as Governor of NE-IA Kiwanis in 1995-96. In 2001-02 Gus moved into a very different and challenging role as the First Gent of NE-IA Kiwanis while wife Jane served as Governor. Unaccustomed to attending events with the majority being women he soon became very adept at making himself the center of attention and tying groups together with his phenomenal sense of humor, caring and love of life. That was good experience for Gus as Jane moved up into the international leadership roles. Gus served as First Gent of the Kiwanis International Foundation (now called the Kiwanis Children’s Fund) in 2007-08 and of Kiwanis International in 2016-17. Not only was Gus an anomaly serving in these First Gent roles as a male he was the only spouse of an international president in the organization’s 100+ history to have also served as a district governor. Gus was as comfortable in the leadership role as he was in the supportive leadership role and excelled at both. Jane states often she was as successful as she was due to Gus being by her side. Gus and Jane shared their love for each other, their faith, family and love of helping children on a worldwide platform and each said they are better people because of it. They worked together always to energize their dream that every child would be happy, healthy, safe and loved. Never seeing one without the other, they served as a testimony of what can happen when we work together to make life a better place for all of us.

Gus leaves an extensive legacy of positive handprints and love to his family and worldwide friends and service to his faith, his community, and to the world’s children. Gus believed that life is to be made full, to have fun, and to help others. He found good in each person and in each day, bringing light and love to everything he touched.  Gus lived his own father’s advice, “Leave every place you go a little better than you found it.”

Gus is preceded in death by his parents Albert C. and Florence Erickson; sister Shirley R. Benson Greenslade; in-laws Wayne and Bernie Andrews and Ralph Greenslade. Cherishing his memory and continuing his passion for helping others are Jane, his beloved wife of 24+ years; children Wendy Erickson, Tracy (Dan) Rynders, and Todd (Kristie) Erickson; step-daughters Erica (Eric) Loerts and Sarah (Mark) Schau; grandchildren Josh, Nate, Alex, Sam, Zachary, Gavin, and Maya; dear in-laws; treasured nieces and nephews; and devoted friends around the world.

Visitation: Sunday, June 6, 4:00-6:00 pm, at Bellevue Memorial Chapel.

Funeral Service: Monday, June 7, 10:30 am, at Avery Presbyterian, 1910 Avery Rd. E., Bellevue.

To view video of the service, click the link below:

https://boxcast.tv/view/n-n-gus-erickson-156780

Interment: Monday, June 7, 2:00 pm, at Omaha National Cemetery.

Military Honors:  Offutt AFB Honor Guard, American Legion Post 331, and VFW Post 10785.

In honor of Gus and his service to children around the world, memorial donations may be made in the name of Gus Erickson to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund. Contributions may be made online at www.kiwanis.org/give or mailed to Kiwanis Children’s Fund at 3636 Woodview Trace, Indianapolis, IN 46268.

In honor of Gus and his service to children in Nebraska and Iowa, memorial donations may be made in the name of Gus Erickson to the NE-IA Kiwanis District Foundation, c/o Lonnie Shumate, 13258 S 38th St, Bellevue, NE 68123.