Obituaries

Jeffery Allan Gaus, age 60, of Kincheloe, Michigan, passed away on December 2, 2025, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, surrounded by his family and friends. Jeff was born on August 28, 1965, in Nelsonville, Ohio, to Edward Joseph and Bonnie Jean (Brammer) Gaus.

Jeff moved with his family to Sault Ste. Marie in 1967 where he attended Sault Area Public Schools, he graduated from Sault Area High School in 1983.

Jeff was a lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy books. His love of the genre began at age eleven when his brother Bill gave him a copy of “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien, which he read four times, then went on to read the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Those books fueled his interest in Dungeons & Dragons and many other fantasy roleplaying games, which he played with his friends beginning in high school and continued into his entire adult life.

Jeff enjoyed cosplaying. He would regularly dress up for events including the Michigan Renaissance Festival, the Annual Rendezvous in the Sault, various pirate festivals around the state and science fiction and fantasy conventions. He particularly enjoyed dressing as a pirate and competing in pirate costume contests, trading victories with his “rival” known as “Captain Bob.”

Jeff was diagnosed with kidney failure in 1996 and received a kidney transplant in 2000, but even with those difficulties he went on to graduate as valedictorian from Bay Mills Community College in 2005 with a degree in Business Administration, later attending Lake Superior State University and graduating in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics.

Jeff is survived by his sisters, Sandra Gaus and Rosanne Casey, both of Sault Ste. Marie; brothers, Kenneth Gaus of Sault Ste. Marie, John (Delores) Gaus of Ohio, William (Judi) Gaus of Kansas and Edward Jr. (Janice) of California; and many nieces and nephews.

Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Bonnie Gaus; and his brother, Richard (Elizabeth) Gaus Sr.

A Native American pipe service will be conducted for Jeff by Les Ailing, who knew Jeff for many years.

A remembrance ceremony will be held at the Sault Tribe Cultural Center, 11 Ice Circle Chi Mukwa, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, on Saturday, December 6, 2025, beginning at 3:00 PM.

Memorial Contributions can be made in Jeff’s honor to Hospice of the EUP, 308 W. 12th Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783.

Family Life Funeral Homes – Sault Ste. Marie assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be given to the family at www.familylifefh.com.