Vavrus, August "Gus" age 95, died on January 30th at the Kenwood Retirement Community in Mpls. Gus was born in Czechoslovakia on May 12, 1920, and immigrated to the U. S. as a baby. He was married for 63 years to Hallie Pope Jackson Vavrus, who survives. Also surviving are sister Emily Zaber (John); sister-in-law Judy Vavrus; daughters Mary (Steve Jahn) and Fran (Tim Leinbach); son Steve (Susie Swanson); grandsons Gus and Oscar Leinbach, and Anton Jahn-Vavrus; and many nieces and nephews around the country. In his final years, he was lovingly cared for by aides from Amber Home Health Care, especially Yemama Omer. Gus spent most of his life in West Lafayette, IN, where he was a Russian professor at Purdue University. He earned his master's and doctoral degrees from the University of Chicago, and he taught at universities in Idaho, Oklahoma, and Ohio. At Purdue he served as chair of the Russian section and later taught in the English Department. In retirement, Gus volunteered as a tutor for 20 years at the Lafayette Adult Resource Academy. A World War II veteran, he served four years in the army while stationed in France and Germany. Gus was known for his wonderful sense of humor, love of poetry and languages, and compassion toward others. Memorial gifts preferred to the Lafayette Adult Resource Academy-Gus and Hallie Vavrus Educational Fund (1100 Elizabeth St. #3, Lafayette, IN 47904). A celebration of Gus' life will be held at First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis (900 Mt. Curve Ave.) on Saturday, February 27th at 3:00 p.m.