August "Gus" Orsolini

ORSOLINI, AUGUST "GUS" - Entered into rest at home in Windsor, CA following a short illness on June 28, 2014. Dearly beloved husband of seventy-one years of Marie (Astorino) Orsolini of Windsor, CA. Beloved father of Mario L. (Pam) Orsolini of Cloverdale, CA. Adored grandfather of Valerie K. (Rick) Orsolini-Rhodes of Cloverdale, CA and Mario A. Orsolini of Midland, TX. Cherished great grandfather of Aiden Orsolini-Rhodes and Grace Orsolini-Rhodes, both of Cloverdale, CA and Payton Rhodes and Shelby Rhodes, both of Valley Center, KS. Also survived by his beloved sister's-in-law; Fran Bolduc and Gracie Laudari, both of Santa Rosa, CA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A native of Santa Rosa, CA, age 92 years. Gus is preceded in death by his parents; Mario Orsolini and Asunta Orsolini-Rossi, five brothers and one sister. Born and raised in Santa Rosa, he met the love of his life when they were both attending the "original" Piner Elementary School, which now houses a church. Their families lived close together at Guerneville and Fulton Roads. They were childhood sweethearts who eloped to Reno, NV, and were married on August 22, 1943, spending seventy-one wonderful years together. Gus grew up with a strong work ethic. He started working in his dads vineyard at an early age. He worked as a truck driver for various companies, including Western Feed of Santa Rosa. When the family relocated to South Lake Tahoe in 1959, he went into the Well Drilling business. After that he became a manager for a local privately owned water company. In 1972 they returned to Santa Rosa, where he went back into the Well Drilling business until he retired. After his retirement he missed working, so he went back to work for the City of Santa Rosa Water Company. They appreciated having him as an employee because of his knowledge of the field. Gus worked hard all of his life to take care of his family. He and Marie always had an open door policy for family and friends to stop by and visit. After his "second" retirement, he and Marie enjoyed going fishing and camping at Lake Berryessa, where they became members of the "Berryessa Bums" camping group. Gus always had a large vegetable garden. He was never one to get home from work and just stay in the house. He always had to be doing something around the house. Every year he would make his wine from the vines he had on his property and to the enjoyment of his family, he would make his homemade Italian "copa and sausage". Salute! to a wonderful son, husband, dad, grandpa, Nono, brother, brother-in-law, relative and friend. We love you, until we meet again… Family and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. inside Madelyne's Chapel at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery (2930 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA, 95404). Entombment; All Saint's Mausoleum. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice.