Gus Balon

Uncle Gus, I will always cherish the time I got to spend with you and Aunt Kay. We are so glad we got to see you this past summer. Dennis and I will always remember how much fun we had playing euchre. We will miss you. Thanks for all the great times. Dennis, Dana, Austin and Paige Middendorf

Goodby Gus! You will be missed by many, but I will miss you a bunch. When I first went into Foodservice Sales, Gus Balons was my first customer - you bought 20 cases of margarine, my FIRST SALE!! Boy was I proud of that!

We spent quite a few days golfing and hunting (remember the Buffalo Hunt-you had to teach us how to skin and butcher it - if you hadn't, we would probably still be there). The highlight of the whole trip was sitting around the campfire putting back a few cold ones and playing cards.

You taught me alot about the food service business. One thing that really stuck in my mind was the meal had to be good but you must have a great cup of coffee and a great piece of pie because thats what the customer would remember.

Stella and my condolences goes to Kay, Laura, Donna, Bob and your grandchildren. I have a great deal of sorrow for those who did not have the opportunity to meet and know you, learn from you and just enjoy being around you.

To Grandpa
Many thanks to you the MAN I owe most to. Without you, my life would not be in the direction that it is in today. From business, to family you taught me that love and consistency is the key to life. With extremely high morals, respect for self and family there really is no other importance in life. The simple way you lived your life taught me that friends and family are far more important then "things" that you buy. There really is no other substitute for a good game of hearts, euchre, or poker at the kitchen table. While reading these other entries I am reminded of how many lives you truly touched. I can only hope that I am half the man you were and I can not wait till I see you again ON THE BACK SIDE. Thank you for the last moments that we sharded together with my family, those moments will truly never be forgotten. My love and admiration always. Boyd

We always enjoyed when you came to visit Dubuque. We had some fun memories. We have to say we always wanted Gus as a partner in Euchre. He always made it interesting. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love, Jim, Lisa, Abby and Dylan Dougherty

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You....Gus for you were the best. Your restaurant, what can I say, you were and will always remain in my heart for your great customer service, the best food in Tucson, especially for breakfast.

May your family always remember you, and keep all the memories of you tatooed in there heart, for there were so many.

May God give your family strength to move on for you were an inspiration too many.

Rest in Peace and God Bless You on your journey... *<((((><

Erma

When my husband and I started our business, we would have our "planning meetings" at Balon's restaurant - planning and writing over Saturday morning breakfasts. Even if we didn't have any business to worry about, we would have a "meeting" at Gus Balon's just for the excuse to go there. We never knew Gus but the business he started -- good food, fair prices, and friendly environment --all speak for him. If they have restaurants in heaven, we'll be at the one Gus is running.

Thanks for the memories.I have alot of them but a few are when we went golfing,we cleared the pond of all the lost balls,we must of found hundreds of balls in the days we went,also all the walnuts we found our cart was so back heavy I thought we would tip over, I bet the other golfers thought we were nuts[ha,ha,].But we did hit a few ball,but had more fun looking for them.You were always very kind to us when we came and stayed with you and Kay.When you came into Dana's wedding with that earring on we all thought you were nuts but we all had a good laugh.When you and Kay came back we always played a lot of euchre and you and I were always partners and we didn,t like to lose,but sometimes we had to let them win so they would play the next time.
Thanks for the memories I love and I will miss my brother in law.

Thanks for the memories.I have alot of them but a few are when we went golfing,we cleared the pond of all the lost balls,we must of found hundreds of balls in the days we went,also all the walnuts we found our cart was so back heavy I thought we would tip over, I bet the other golfers thought we were nuts[ha,ha,].But we did hit a few ball,but had more fun looking for them.You were always very kind to us when we came and stayed with you and Kay.When you came into Dana's wedding with that earring on we all thought you were nuts but we all had a good laugh.Thanks for the memories I love and will miss you,but you are in a better place.

It has been a pleasure to have known Gus and be part of the family. I always enjoyed visiting wiht Gus especially the Euchre games. I will nere forget the "scolding" I got when Gus had to deal and excused himself from teh table. I stacked the deck so Gus wouold make trump and the playing right behind him Euchre'd him. Gus you were one of a kind and will be missed by all who knew you.

Uncle Gus,
Though we lived miles apart, thoughts of you were never far. You always seemed to visit Grandma just when changes were happening in my life, when I bought my first house, my first truck, and talked me through some bad times. Your loving hugs and belly laugh were always given freely. I was so blessed to be part of your family. What I will forever hold dear were our days playing Keno. The countless hours laughing, some how you always managed to come out ahead even though I walked out broke, the memories and stories were worth every quater lost. My sympathy and love goes out to your kids and grandkids but mostly Aunt Kay. I will hold you in my heart and pass my memories on to my kids about my beloved Uncle Gus.

Uncle Gus,
God bless you I already miss you even tho we did not see each other often. Sharing good times at different occasions was a hoot.I was remembering Dana&Dennis's wedding you lost your diamond earring you had the girls on the floor looking for it like it was gold !
.99 cents K-mart !

Gus Balon, beloved neighbor and second father to me, was a magician in the kitchen, at the card table, as the family patriarch, and anywhere that his grace and joy could fill a room with an incomparable smile and world class laugh. He gave me a sense of family and place I would never have known without his presence and the legacy of love his entire family gives me to this day. This man embodied gusto! I know you're not gone, Gus, just waiting for the next hand. I'll be there at the table with you soon enough, pops. Dear Kathleen, incredible Kay, and the trickster Trink will join us somehwere down the road. Bob can fill in for my dad and we can get started anytime you ante up.

Uncle Gus was always fun, funny, friendly with the 'outlaws' like me, likable, generous and had that roar of a HEART which was his! He made people smile just to be with him. The card games we had were so fun, with handfulls of M&M's...plain or peanut! And when he was my partner, oh my, that was fun. He would say....you did good honey! Or, maybe you should have done it this way! The restaurant, which is now a Tucson role model for fast, friendly and tasty food, is such a treasure. I remember one time when I was visiting, Gus let me go to the back. THE BACK! So he watched me as I punched that bread....HIS BREAD! Oh it was fun. Yes, Uncle Gus will be sorely missed. With sorrow, but with joy, that I had him in my life. Here is one more pinch on your cheeks, Uncle Gus (which did make you smile......giggled even!) From Jackie (Stan's wife, nephew.)

I started going there in the 60's and moved away from Arizona just last year. I have certainly missed my Saturday morning breakfast with good food, good company and good atmosphere. I'm sorry to learn of Gus' death. As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life’s routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends

In the late 60s I was introduced to Gus Balone's restaurant and I am still a great fan. Infact I stopped by on Thursday to have a late breakfast there. I was so sorry to hear that Gus had passed away. He's going to have the best sweet rolls in Heaven!

Gus was a friend to all who knew him. I was a regular customer in the late 60's and 70's when I was a Tucson Police officer. Gus really liked cops and he served the best breakfast in town. He will be missed by all his friends.

To the MAN in my life who taught me everything, from the restaurant business to lessons in life. Your son-in-law, Bob Bartke, Robert's Restaurant

God Bless Gus's family. I enjoyed many,many meals there for the past unteen years!!He will be missed

My childhood memories are having lunches with my mother at Gus Balon's. Thank you for giving the community so much for so long. Rest in Peace.

I am so sorry to hear of Gus's passing. My Dad used to take me in the restaurant all the time. I loved it. God Bless all of you during this time of loss. Barbara Schossow Welsh

Thanks for the memories.
Blessed be, Gus.