Walter Anton Gustav
Feb. 26, 1949 to Aug. 27, 2024
Walter Anton Gustav, affectionately known as Wally, was born on February 26, 1949, to William and Virginia Gustav in Valparaiso, Indiana. The Gustav family relocated to Portland, Oregon, in 1958, where Wally’s formative years were spent at Trinity Grade School and Concordia High School.
In September 1968, during his time at Concordia Junior College, Wally met the love of his life, Mary Scafe. They married on June 3, 1972, at Zion Lutheran Church in Ashton, Idaho, after Wally graduated from Concordia Senior College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in June 1971.
Wally pursued his calling with unwavering dedication, graduating from Christ Seminary-Seminex in St. Louis, Missouri, in May 1975. His ordination on January 30, 1976, at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Portland marked the beginning of a rich and impactful pastoral ministry throughout the state of Oregon.
He first served in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Mollala and the American Lutheran Church (ALC) in Florence, before eventually serving within what would become the Oregon Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), where he served 20 churches across the Oregon Synod. His commitment to his faith and community was evident throughout his service in various Lutheran traditions.
Wally and Mary’s love grew into a family with the birth of their son, Matthew, in August 1979, and twin daughters, Rebecca and Deborah, in March 1982. The Gustav family made their home in Lebanon, Oregon, in 1989, where Wally continued to serve congregations as a full-time pastor and interim pastor until 2018. He often served as a supply pastor in Lutheran and Episcopal churches up until his passing. His dedication to education extended beyond the church, as he worked as a substitute teacher in the Lebanon School District, where Mary also taught until her retirement in 2014.
Wally was blessed with the joy of grandchildren: Annette (2011), Silas (2014), Lucas (2014), Madeline (2015), and Logan (2017). His love for them was profound, and they brought him immense happiness in his later years.
Wally passed away peacefully on the evening of August 27, 2024, from complications of leukemia, surrounded by the love of his family and close friends. His final days were filled with warmth, memories, and the presence of those he cherished most.
Wally’s life was a testament to love, faith, and service. He stood tall, not just in stature, but in the hearts of those who knew him. His legacy will continue through the lives he touched.
In memory of Wally and his enduring spirit of compassion, the family requests that donations be made to ABC House, ELCA World Hunger, or the Lebanon School Welcome Center, ensuring that his legacy of caring for others lives on.