A former M-P and Owen Sound Council member has died.
Doctor Gus Mitges died Sunday at Guelph General Hospital — he was 90.
Mitges served as a Progressive Conservative MP from 1972 until he retired in 1993 — first in the riding of Grey Simcoe and then Bruce Grey when the ridings changed.
Before, Mitges was a veterinarian and served as a school board member before his election as an Owen Sound alderman in 1966 until he was elected as an MP.
Owen Sound City County Councillor Arlene Wright was former employee of Mitges and a personal friend.
Wright says Mitges knew everybody and never put himself above anyone else — he just wanted to be one of the guys.
Wright also says Mitges was never interested in becoming a cabinet minister because he wanted to take care of his constituents first.
Wright says Mitges would also be upset that the H1N1 flu is being referred to the swine flu because of the impact on the farming community.
Doctor Gary Gurbin was a Progressive Conservative MP for 10 years at the same time as Mitges was in office in Ottawa.
Doctor Gurbin says Mitges showed him the ropes on Parliament Hill.
Doctor Gurbin also describes Mitges as well spoken, a good listener and one of the ‘least offensive’ people he has ever met.
Doctor Mitges was also involved in amateur theatre and served as president of the Owen Sound Little Theatre for three years in the 1960’s.
Visitation for Gus Mitges will be held at Breckenridge Ashcroft funeral home in Owen Sound tomorrow from 2 PM to 4 PM and 7 PM until 9 PM.
A funeral for Gus Mitges will be held at 11 o’clock Thursday morning at St. George’s Anglican Church in Owen Sound.