Bess, Harriet, Kathi, and all family members and admirer’s.
I will add my sorrow at learning that such a fine and talented man is no longer with in this world. It was just a short time ago that he signed his "Work in Progress" book for us and I will treasure it always. He took the trouble to compliment other artist and I admired greatly the work he did throughout his life time. His output only got better over time. I’m glad I had the opportunity to tell him so. I hope he is well rewarded.
Jim Riley 

I have been a "student" in the Shaker Seminar for many years, and that is where My fellow participants and I got to know Gus and Bess.  It was always a pleasure to talk to them, and to be privileged to view his new works.  I own a few of Gus’s work from those days and have always enjoyed looking at them.  Gus was very generous to us all, did covers for our Shaker Seminars, and we were also very happy to purchase a Shaker painting or two by Gus.  Thanks Gus, you were a gentleman and a sweet, good man to us all.
Sincerely,
Bev Reynolds

Please accept our very sincere condolences.  Gus was a fine gentleman and a remarkable artist.  Our home is filled with wonderful examples of his imagination. He will always be remembered and honored here.
with love, Tina and Richard Mumma
Celebrate his Life.

We extend our sincere condolences on the loss of your husband and father.
My father, Melvin Hershman worked with Gus at Sperry for many years.  He
always spoke genuinely about Gus being such a nice person. 
Sincerely,
The Hershman Family

To Bess, Harriet, Kathi, and Family,
Terry and I are so sorry for your loss. May Gus’s soul rest in peace.
Our thoughts and prayers will be for your family, as well as for Gus’s soul.
I am sure that Gus will be painting in heaven, and sharing Gods beauty with all, as he did so humbly here on the good earth.
I am so proud to have called Gus my friend and mentor.
I was honored to have Gus attend two of my solo art shows in Lancaster. His positive comments will always be treasured by me. He had a quiet way to make his fellow artist feel good about themselves.
My wife Terry and I had the privilege to purchase one of Gus’s paintings, which presently hangs in our home. Gus will always be with us in spirit through his art.
Gus will be missed by all, especially the art world.
I am sorry that I could not have attended the wake and funeral.
I just learned of Gus’s passing.
With deep sympathy
Michael G. & Terry Jerista

Mr. and Mrs. Siang Hua Wang send a tribute and message of celebration for the life of our sojourner, Gus. A fellow artist, Siang Hua has enjoyed time, talent, philosophy and friendship together with Gus. They have been as iron sharpening iron, each honing the skill of the other, each encouraging the other down their own artistic path.
You are in our prayers as we feel grief at his passing, yet we are grateful to have been in the company of so skilled an artist and so fine a man.
May God bless you and keep you,
Siang Hua and Joanne S. Wang

Harriett and Kathi,

I’m saddened to learn of the death of your dad.  My mother called me today to tell me the news.  She said she saw your dad, I think last week, at Moravian Manor after he had visited your mom. Know my thoughts are with both of you and your families.
David Staebler
DStaebler@usga.org

We wish to express our deep sympathy to all of your family for your great loss.  I had the pleasure of working with Gus in the very early days of my career and realized what a true and dedicated artist he was. He leaves behind a wonderful, loving family and a great body of work… no one can ask for much more. We are all less for his absence.

Ron and Mary Bowman

Dear Family of Gus Kermes:
When I remember Gus I think of the Amish saying: "The Work is All". If art was his work, then his "Art is All". For his many productive years on earth, I knew Gus for only one of them. In the early summer of 2008 I had the priviledge of rediscovering Gus’ art at a gallery in Lancaster during one of my many trips "back home" to visit family in Central Pennsylvania. Although my mother proudly displays two small lithographs in her home that portray the Amish countryside, it was only after the gallery visit that I connected so deeply with recent abstract landscapes that Gus created. My wife Susan and I were so moved by his paintings I decided to seek out Gus’ studio in order to better understand the artist and his creative process. While visiting Gus in his home and studio, we felt Gus’ expanding warmth and geniune love and compassion for other human beings. At that time, Gus was still recovering from the loss of a dear friend who had lived and worked in San Francisco. Gus was tired from his recent trip to SF but still gave us his time by showing us his work, his studio and his home. We were happy to purchase one of his Arbor paintings. At the time, Gus was anxiously waiting for the release of his book, "Work in Progress". Recently we spoke and Gus and I talked about our love of Lancaster County, the people who live there, and of our love for family and of course ART. I’ll close with one of the last things he said to me: "You and I, Sam are on a similar paths, we are both chasing our bliss". Gus had his passion for and bliss of creating art, mine is for viewing art and wanting to know the people behind the creative process. I will miss Gus’ kindness, his warm and near constant smile and the next great painting.
Fondly,
Samuel L. "Sam" King
Sparks, Nevada

I have a beautiful watercolor of the Meeting House at Canterbury that Gus painted 1990’s.
It hangs in my hall where I enjoy it every day.
My thoughts are with you at this time.
Best wishes,
Barbara Norris MD
Albuquerque, NM

Harriet, Carl, Kathi, and Reed, I was saddened to read of the passing of Gus this past week. Please accept my condolences and know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers….MARK USCIAK

Harriett, Kathi & family:
It is with a heavy heart that I learned about your father’s passing on the WGAL news.  Such a loss to the world.  You are lucky to have had him in your lives this long.  My sincere condolences to you.  May God bless you all in this time of grief.
Love,
Marge Fry & family

It is less than a year ago, when Gus signed and did an extemporaneous sketch in my copy of "A Work In Prgress".  He is my favorite local artist, a fine gentleman, as well as a great talent.  He will be missed, but his work is ours to enjoy.  Thank you, Gus.                              
FSK

Dear Bess, Harriet and Kathi,
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Gus. I still have my childhood memories of you living in Ephrata.
Last year my daughter, Andi, came to the States from Germany to visit my mother, Ruth Finkel and me. We went to Lancaster to visit Helen Goldstoff. Andi wanted to meet your father. She grew up with his art work in our home. We took a chance and knocked on his door. He was home and we had a nice visit. He gave us the magazine, Lancaster, which he was featured in.
I moved to New Jersey. Just last week my son came to visit me and he picked up that magazine from the magazine rack. He didn’t know your father but he knew his work. At that time, I didn’t know of his passing.
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time. It’s been two years since my Dad passed. The pain of the loss diminishes with time, but it still hurts.
I would like sometime to visit with you when I go to Reading to visit Mom. I go to Lititz when I visit my Dad’s burial site.
Be well,
Lois Finkel
Layahb@aol.com or 732-942-4431