ST. CHARLES – Gus Enzenbacher is being remembered as a family man who loved his community and made a tangible impact.

The former St. Charles alderman died at the age of 87 on May 5 at Delnor Community Hospital surrounded by his wife and family.

Enzenbacher served for 16 years on the St. Charles City Council during the 1980s and 1990s, where he was known as a tenacious advocate for the community.

“He was a bridge-builder between difficult personalities, and he was someone you could always trust,” St. Charles City Administrator Mark Koenen said.

Enzenbacher also made his mark at St. Patrick Catholic Church, where he served on the school board and the parish council, as well as working as head of the maintenance department.

St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina said Enzenbacher was an effective alderman, crediting him as being instrumental in gaining approval for a major engineering project to widen Dean Street in the mid-1980s.

Koenen said Enzenbacher worked tirelessly on that project, meeting with neighbors and property owners along the roadway to find solutions.

“It was his personal relationships that allowed the project to advance, and we are still enjoying the benefits today,” Koenen said.

Later, Enzenbacher became something of an elder statesman in the community, Rogina said, providing advice and support.

“I’d ask him his opinion a lot of time,” Rogina said. “Gus had a real concern for his neighborhood and for the city.”

Enzenbacher had a strong vision for the future of St. Charles, Rogina said, noting that Enzenbacher was a supporter of the Red Gate Road bridge project.

In addition to work for the city and his church, Enzenbacher was involved with the St. Charles Jaycees, the Boy Scouts and the American Legion.

Born in Chicago, Enzenbacher served as an Army drill sergeant during the Korean War.

Enzenbacher and his wife, Kathleen, moved to St. Charles 61 years ago. He ran a television repair business from his home and raised a family.

Enzenbacher is survived by his wife, Kathleen, daughters Linda Hagemann, Lora Bergmann and Leanne DeZutel, son David Enzenbacher, brother Joseph Enzenbacher and nine granddaughters.

A Funeral Mass was held at St. Patrick Church on May 10, with burial at Resurrection Cemetery in Geneva.