Gustaf R. "Gus" Krone, 77, of 3 Oak St., Hurley, retired Hurley Postmaster, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, Minn., surrounded by his loving family. He was born Dec. 29, 1929, in Ironwood, Mich., son of the late Gustaf and Minnie (Lee) Krone, attended the K.P. Silberg Grade School in Erwin Township, and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1947. He then served stateside in the U.S. Navy as an airplane mechanic at Whiting Field in Pensacola, Fla until his honorable discharge in 1951. Following his discharge, Gus returned to Ironwood and worked in the Penokee and Montreal Mines. He was then employed with the U.S. Postal Service, serving as Postmaster in Mercer and retiring as Postmaster in Hurley in 1990. Gus was a member of Hurley American Legion Post 58 and member and past board member of Eagle Bluff Golf Club in Hurley, a former member and chairman of the Iron County Board of Supervisors, former member of the Hurley City Council, former member and past president of the Hurley Lions Club and the Mercer Kiwanis Club, and was named "2005 Man of the Year" by the Hurley Chamber of Commerce. An avid bowler, he bowled for the Engstrom Funeral Home team in the Tuesday Commercial League at the Legion Lanes in Hurley, and for the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home team in the Monday Major League at the Sport Bowl in Ironwood. An avid golfer, he scored a hole-in-one at Eagle Bluff. He also enjoyed hunting and camping, and was a big Green Bay Packer fan. On Oct. 24, 1953, he was married to the former Elizabeth A. "Liz" Slaski at St. Mary's Church in Hurley. She survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Kathleen (Thomas) Staack, Plover; three sons, Daniel (JoAnne), Waukesha, and Jeffrey (Joanna), and Nathan (Chrissy), both of Hurley; eight grandchildren, Peter and Shana Staack, both of St. Paul, Minn., Lukas Staack, Madison, Tyler, Alina, and Nathan Krone, all of Hurley, and James and Jenelle Trepanier, both of Waukesha; one great-grandson, Dalton Trepanier; a brother, John, Erwin Township; a sister-and-brother-in-law, Mary and Thomas Trudell, Greendale; special friends, Joe and Kathy Osterman, Hurley; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. In accordance with Gus's wishes, cremation has taken place. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008, at noon, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, with the Rev. Michael Hayden officiating. Full military rites will be accorded by the Hurley American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard, with a luncheon reception to follow at the Iron Nugget in downtown Hurley. Relatives and friends may call at at the church from 10 a.m. until noon on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hurley Education Foundation, 5503 W. Range View Drive, Hurley, Wis. 54534. To view Gus's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick and Engstrom Funeral and Cremation Services of Ironwood and Hurley.