August "Gus" Edward Berend, age 86, of Windthorst, Texas passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at his residence.

Rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, December 19, 2020, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Windthorst followed by Mass celebrated with Rev. Michael Moloney, Pastor of  St. Mary's and St. Boniface Catholic Church, officiating.  Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, December 18, 2020, at Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

Gus was born November 4, 1934 in Windthorst, Texas to the late August Jacob Berend and Eva Wolf Berend.

He proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1957 until 1959.  After his tour of duty, he was a dairy farmer throughout his life.

He married Nellie Ann Hess on May 8, 1965 in Lindsay, Texas.

Gus was a life-long member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where he was a lay minster, an usher and parked cars for funerals.  He was a member of St. Joseph Society where he served as President, the Parish Council, the Knight of Columbus, AMPI and was an officer for Catholic Life Insurance.  He also served on the Windthorst School Board from April 1974 until April 1980, and the Red River Federal Land Bank for twelve years.

Gus was an avid sports fan and loved his Trojans and Trojanettes.  He never missed a game that his sons and daughters were playing.

Survivors include his wife, Nellie of Windthorst; three daughters, Sue Ann Berend of Joy, Deana Vieth and husband, James of Windthorst and Jessica Berend of Wichita Falls; seven sons, Rodney Berend and wife, Karen of Windthorst, Shane L. Berend and wife, Kristin of Scotland, Quentin Berend and wife, Rebecca of Alvord, Maurice Berend and wife, Mumtaz Tejani of Rockwall, Doyle Berend of Windthorst, Casey Berend of McKinney and Augie Berend and wife, Candice of Mt. Pleasant; two sisters, Elsie Hoff and husband, Marvin of Windthorst and Laura Spencer and husband, James of North Richland Hill; two sisters-in-law, Angie Berend and Ann Berend both of Windthorst; sixteen grandchildren, Mason, Harlee, Landry, Larson, Mikayla, Blair, Blakeley, Kylie, Brynlee, Braxton, Brystol, Hasan, Laila, Slade, Hess and Larkin; and three great-grandchildren, Elliott, Milo and Everly.

He was preceded in death by three sisters, Lillian Lindeman, Mary Poirot, and Betty Humpert; and three brothers, Bill, Andy and Adam Berend.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Windthorst Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 162, Windthorst, Texas 76389, St. Mary's Catholic Church, P.O. Box 230, Windthorst, Texas 76389 or Hospice of Wichita Falls, 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310.