Walter Gusdorf, May 8, 2016. Beloved husband of Ruth Gusdorf; father and father-in-law of Gerald M. Gusdorf, Jeffrey O. Gusdorf and Dr. Linda Smith, Ellen Gusdorf Faye and Martin Faye; dear grandfather of Nathan and Jason Gusdorf and Alex and Max Faye; dear brother and brother-in-law of Paul (Carol) Gusdorf and the late John (the late Lois) Gusdorf; dear brother-in-law of the late Sam (Betty) Tannenbaum; our dear uncle, cousin and friend to many.

Walter Gusdorf was born in Worms, Germany near Frankfort in 1926. He grew up in a family that skied, rock climbed and hiked in the nearby Black Forest.  This was the start of his love for the outdoors.  The Gusdorf family was a victim of Nazi aggression.  On Kristallnacht, he opened the door when the Nazis arrived, ransacking his home and terrorizing his family.  Walter and his two brothers Paul and John fled Germany on the Kindertransport in 1939, traveling by ship from Trieste, Italy to Ellis Island.  Walter and John were generously sponsored by the Lowenhaupt family of St. Louis. 

Walter served in the army in the Pacific Ocean Theater where he was stationed in the Philippines.  After the war, Walter and his family started Gusdorf & Sons, a furniture manufacturing company. They started building television stands for RCA and Zenith when TV’s were introduced to the consumer market in the early 1950’s. Gusdorf grew to become a large national corporation manufacturing furniture for televisions, audio equipment, and computers. Walter holds 20 patents related to the design and manufacture of furniture. He cared deeply for his employees and was a mentor and role-model to many in the St. Louis business community. 

Walter enjoyed European travel with his wife Ruth, fishing with a close knit group of friends including his brothers and dear friend Charles Kilgen, and skiing with friends and family in Beaver Creek, Colorado. He was a passionate cyclist and was a member of bike groups, including the Turtles and Spinners, in St. Louis and Naples, Florida.

He taught us lessons of perseverance, optimism, kindness, and tolerance.  He loved hiking, fishing, biking, and good food and shared these passions generously with his wife, children, grandchildren, and friends.  He will be missed by all.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 10 at 3:00 at Temple Israel, 1 Rabbi Rubin Dr, 63141. Visitation begins at 2:30 PM. Interment follows at Chevra Kadisha Cemetery, 1601 North and South Road, 63130. Memorial contributions preferred to Interfaith Fund and/or Rabbinic Discretionary Fund at Temple Israel, and St. Louis Holocaust Museum.  Please visit bergermemorialchapel.com for more information. BERGER MEMORIAL SERVICE