Obituary of Gary Eugene Brouse

Gary Eugene Brouse Age 76, died March 1st 2024, at Arnot Ogden Hospital, Elmira, NY. Following arterial bypass surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NY, in November, he suffered from the effects of congestive heart failure, a defective mitral valve and of a long-standing condition of blood abnormalities. He spent 6 weeks at Arnot Ogden where teams of cardiologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, and a hematologist, working in consultation with University of Rochester specialists strove to determine the causes of his condition and to treat him. Gary was born December 18, 1947 to Harold and Helen (Dietrich) Brouse in Lewisburg, PA. He was the eldest of three children. He graduated from Lewisburg High School in 1965 then attended Williamsport Community College for two years to obtain his associate degree. Gary was hired by Corning Glass Works in 1968 and began work as a draftsman designing glass melting furnaces. He was drafted into the US Army in 1968 and spent the two years of his service in Augsburg, Germany, where he was a Radio Repairman. Upon discharge from the Army as a SPEC 5 (E 5), Gary returned to work in the Corning Glass Melting Technology division. He trained in CAD/CAM technology and was also a contract worker in Melting Research at the Corning, Inc. Sullivan Park facility after his official retirement from Corning. He received recognition for 50 years with Corning, Inc. in 2018. Gary met his future wife, Ann Gustina, while they were both active members of the Sports Car Club of America, Glen Region. They competed in amateur racing events and worked as volunteers at the Watkins Glen Race Track for tire testing sessions and several different types of racing events. While not a collector of sports cars, as a young man Gary built a sporty Meyers Manx SR. Then, in his mid to later years, he purchased and drove a bright red Mazda Miata. He was always interested in perusing vehicles at car shows. Gary and Ann married at St. Cecelia's Catholic Church in Elmira, NY, on April 22, 1978. They enjoyed nearly 46 years of life together. The pair traveled the United States, visiting a multitude of National Parks, National Monuments and historical sites. Their favorite journey of 8,000 miles took them to 12 national parks and monuments in one trip. They also participated in many National Wildlife Federation Family Summit weeks which included many nature-oriented activities in Nova Scotia, Vermont, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Alaska and Hawaii. Before meeting Ann, Gary enjoyed skiing and golf. He later took up league bowling, vegetable gardening, home landscape design and became a very active hiker. He was an active member of the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. Gary hiked the entire Finger Lakes Trail, spanning almost 600 miles across New York State, completing this trail twice "End to End." He was working on a third E to E when osteoporosis caused a painful spine collapse. He continued hiking on local trails at Tanglewood Nature Center, Elmira, NY, the rail trail in Sperr Park, Big Flats, NY, and other recreational trails in New York State and Pennsylvania. Gary helped other hikers in their attempts to achieve the E to E goal and, for a number of years, was actively involved in helping to maintain the trail. Gary was also a voracious reader in retirement. He kept the Big Flats Library busy supplying him with books from all over the Southern Tier Library System. Like many people during the COVID pandemic he and Ann became jigsaw puzzle fanatics who worked up to a 2,000 piece puzzle. Gary was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife Ann, sister Carol (Brouse) Worley and husband Richard Worley of Elizabethtown, PA, brother Donald Brouse and wife Joanne Brouse of Rockford, nieces Dana Brouse and Meredith Worley Zurin and husband Mikhael Zurin, nephew Riley Zurin, grand-niece Kaitlyn (Zurin) Lashinsky and husband Minakota Lashinsky and their children, aunt Emma (Brouse) Foust, cousin Linda (Dietrich) Guiles and husband Bill Guiles as well as many other cousins Gary's quiet manner, good listening skills and loyalty will be remembered by all who knew him, even by those whose acquaintance was brief while caring for him in the hospital. He leaves behind many devoted friends including his fellow members of the congregation of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Horseheads, NY. The compassion and caring demonstrated by many of the doctors, nurses and clinical assistants at Arnot Ogden helped ease the anxiety and pain for Gary and his family during his long ordeal. Their kindness will be remembered. Family and friends are invited to visit the Barber Funeral Home, 413 S. Main St., Horseheads, on Thursday March 7th 2024 from 4 pm to 6 pm. Gary's funeral service will be held there at 6pm. He will be laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery, in Corning, NY. Anyone wishing to honor Gary's memory with a charitable gift may direct their donation to: Finger Lakes Trail Conference, 611 Visitor Center Rd, Mt Morris, NY 14510 Horseheads Community Animal Shelter, 150 Wygant Rd, Horseheads, NY 14845 Horseheads Food Pantry at First Presbyterian Church, 2943 Westinghouse Rd, Horseheads, NY 14845