Mike Faust remembered as tough but fair

By CARL GREEN

Correspondent 

Collinsville, IL – IBEW Local 309 Business Manager Tim Evans recalls the late Robert Joseph “Mike” Faust as a tough but fair leader who helped get the local through some difficult times.

Faust died Aug. 13 at age 86. He was the business manager and financial secretary from 1970 to 1990 and was a member for 67 years.

Following a memorial service on Sunday, Aug. 28, at the Local 309 hall in Collinsville, Evans provided this remembrance:

“Mike, as we referred to him, was instrumental in the relocation of our Union Hall to the location we enjoy today. He was a respected leader in the trade movement and one of the original founders of the Southwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council.

“Mike was a street fighter who grew up in tough times in East
St. Louis and rose through our ranks in our local to become our leader
in 1970.

“Mike was a tough leader, but that type of demeanor was needed during those years. He was tough but fair.

“He had a great love of sports and was a founder of our IBEW statewide softball tournament, which is now in its 40th year and is played each year in Champaign at IBEW Local 601. He was a great coach and took the game very serious. He liked to win.”

Brother Faust, 86 was a native of East St. Louis, was born on Dec. 27, 1929. He grew up in St. Joseph’s Parish and graduated from Central Catholic High School’s Class of 1947. Faust flew in B-36’s over Korea, then came home and married Margaret Sabo, who grew up a few blocks away.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Margaret Elizabeth Faust; son Mike, daughter Beth and granddaughters Nicole and Katie. He was preceded in death by his parents, the former Mary Ellen Walsh and Eugene Albert Faust; sisters Eugenia, Lorraine and Ruth and brothers Charles and Albert.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the IBEW Local 309 Distressed Members’ Fund, 2000 Mall St., Collinsville, Ill., 62234.

Kurrus Funeral Home handled funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be seen at kurrusfh.com.