Gary 'Gus' Saunders passed peacefully in Hospice after a battle with cancer, on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at the age of 82. Married for 61 years and survived by his wife, Joan (Howard). An Ottawa Valley boy, Gus was raised in Carleton Place and was a son of the late Rollitt and late Helen (Templeman) Saunders. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Smith (Jim); son, Glenn Saunders (Rose); grandson, Doug Paradis (Holly); granddaughters, Christina Bor da (Nick) and Anna Saunders, and great-granddaughter, Brookelyn Borda. He is also survived by his brother, Glenn of Colorado; sister, Helen Anne Saunders and brother, Brian of Barrie, Ont. Predeceased by his son, Bob. Gus was a member of the Royal Canadian Navy and was a Naval Pilot. USN trained in Pensacola, Fla., and Corpus Christi, Tex. Antisubmarine pilot VS881, VS880, HMCS Bonaventure (225 deck landings). CFB Shearwater VU-32 (OIC Advanced Training Flight), Base Operations Room Officer and Atlantic Provinces Sea Cadet Liaison Officer. While living in Nova Scotia, Gus was very involved in minor hockey. President of the Cole Harbour/BelAyr Minor Hockey Association, President of the Metro Peewee/Squirt Hockey Tournament, President of Metro Halifax/ Dartmouth Midget League, President Dartmouth Peewee Atlantics (Quebec 70) and President of the Dartmouth Junior Arrows. Then, posted to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Gus started a new career and became a broker with the Ottawa Real Estate Board. After retirement and moving to Munster, Farmer Gus’ Pumpkin Ranch was born and many children, schools and daycares visited the open range farm. Gus also started the Ottawa-St. Lawrence Growers Association. He held the first Giant Pumpkin competition in Munster (World Champions 1994-1997) and eventually went to the By Ward Market to hold the Championships.