He was born July 4, 1932 in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Benhard G. Sr. and Josephine (Taft), the second of eight children.

Gus moved to Maine at an early age and married Shirley M. Hatch on Feb. 14, 1952.

He cut pulpwood, dug marine worms and picked seaweed and received the first marine worm license issued by the state of Maine. He was a member of the Wiscasset Volunteer Fire Department and Volunteer Ambulance Service. He worked for the Wiscasset Police Department, worked as harbor master and helped build Maine Yankee. He started a business transporting marine worms from up and down the coast to the airport in Boston where they were loaded onto planes and shipped all over the world.

Gus enjoyed working in his vegetable garden and woodpile. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He bought a camper and when he retired he set off fishing and hunting all over the state. He made plenty of friends wherever he went.

Gus is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley; sons, Benhard G. III and his wife Lisa and Michael A. Gustafson; daughters, Linda Austin and her husband Brian, JoAnn Fairservice and her husband Mark and Mary Lou Gustafson and her husband John Merry; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four sisters; and two brothers.