James Otto "Gus" Janhunen passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at his residence in Butte.  From the moment Jimmy was born to William O. and Margaret J. McFadden Janhunen on February 28, 1934, he was a rough and tumble youngster with a strong competitive edge.  He joined his brother, Jinx, and his sister, Peggy, in the family home on Walnut Street.  Later, his sister, Patti, and his brother, Dan would join the brood.  His beloved Uncle Fred McFadden commented that he looked like a "Gus", and the name stuck.

Gus's paternal grandparents immigrated to America from Finland, and his maternal grandparents hailed from Ireland.  He was especially proud of being half Finnish and half Irish, and lucky for him, he could celebrate his roots on St. Urho's Day and St. Patrick's Day in the middle of March every year.

Gus graduated 8th grade from Greeley School, proud to be a Hawk.  While attending grade school, he became a standout MASSA speedskater, and had begun to hone his skills as a baseball player.  He spent his high school summers playing catcher for the Legion baseball team, which included being a member of the 1949, 1950, and 1951 State Legion Championship teams. He continued playing baseball in the Butte Copper League for many years.

He moved on to Butte High School, graduating in 1952.  He was forever a Butte High Bulldog, earning 3 varsity letters in football.  Gus was chosen to play in the 1952 Shrine Game.  The West won that game 13-0, with Gus scoring all of the points in the game.  He then headed to Laramie on a scholarship to play for the University of Wyoming.  Unfortunately, a knee injury ended his football career.  He became a very proud member of the Silver B's in the fall of 1974, on the 25 ^th anniversary of the football letter he earned as a sophomore.  He was thrilled to earn his Golden B status in the fall of 1999.  He had hoped to live long enough to receive his Diamond B in a couple of years, but God called him home.

Gus returned to Butte and in 1954, married his high school sweetheart, Janet Doble.  Gus and Janet spent 68 years of marriage, raising 6 kids.  Over the years, he coached Little League Baseball and numerous successful speedskating teams from St. John's and St. Ann's Schools.  He spent many winter evenings and weekends at Clark's Park teaching Butte youngsters how to speed skate.  Gus and Janet enjoyed following all of the activities their kids were involved in, and were their 12 grandchildren's greatest fans.

Gus worked as a bartender, truck driver, and Teamster for the City of Butte, until he retired at the age of 60.  From spring to early fall each year, his passion became golfing.  He truly loved the sport, and enjoyed meeting new friends on the course.  He was inducted into the Butte Hall of Fame for excelling in baseball, speedskating, and football.  Gus faithfully followed the Butte High Bulldogs, the MSU Bobcats, the University of Michigan Wolverines, and the Boston Red Sox.  He rarely missed a Bulldog home football game, never failed to watch the Bobcats, and was fortunate to travel to Ann Arbor to watch the Wolverines, and to Boston to watch the Red Sox.  He served on the board of the Butte Community Federal Credit Union, and has been a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church for most of his life.

Gus's passion for sports was balanced by his love of family.  Spending quality time with his family, extended family, and friends was a virtue he passed onto his children and grandchildren.  He deeply loved his family, and we deeply loved him, and will miss him more than words can say.

Gus was preceded in death by his son Jim, parents, mother-in-law May Doble, brother Jinx (Agnes), sister Peggy Vucurovich (George), brother Dan, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws Lois York, Ruth Shea (Bub), Bill Doble (Ruthie), June Sheehan (Tom), John Daly, Jack Doble, Dee Daly (Tom), Shirley Wagstaff (Bill), and Fritzi Cunningham (Rock).  Gus is survived by his wife Janet, children Joan Janhunen (Leroy Beeby), Judy Ellingwood (Ned), Chuck Janhunen (Kandace Konola), Marty Janhunen (Kim), and Peggy Klemp (Dan), daughter-in-law Renee Janhunen, grandchildren Lisa McCarthy (Nate), Jamie Humphrey, Dayle Stahl (Eric), Dan Janhunen (Stephanie Trant), Brian Ellingwood (Krista Krueger), Connor Janhunen, Carly Hemingway (Trent), Annie Ellingwood (Kyle Thompson), Kevin Ellingwood (Maria Theisen), Lauren Klemp, Ryan Klemp, and Shay Janhunen, great-grandchildren Aidan, Luke, and Livia McCarthy, Natalie and Leightyn Humphrey, Kacie, Whitney, and Kimber Stahl, and Henley Hemingway, sister and brother-in-law Patti and Ed Rademacher, and sister-in-laws Audrey Daly and Pat Doble, and brother-in-law Bob Doble (Sharron).

Liturgy of the Resurrection will be Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 11:00 am at St. Ann's Catholic Church.  Visitation will begin at 10:00 am.