Gustafson, Evelyn (1904-2006)
GUSTAFSON, GODFREY, RODINE, HARTMAN, PETERSON, CHALSTROM, HOWARD, MCCARVILLE
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 3/10/2010 at 23:23:14
Evelyn Gustafson - Aug. 5, 1904 - Nov. 3, 2006
Evelyn Gustafson, Albert City’s oldest resident, passed away at the age of 102 on Friday, November 3, 2006.
Evelyn Otillia Gustafson, daughter of Nels Godfrey and Selma Otillia Rodine, was born on August 5, 1904, at Albert City, Iowa. She came from a family of six children. She started school in Olathe, Colorado, where her family had moved and lived on a farm. She was baptized at the age of thirteen at the Baptist Church in Colorado. She moved to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1924 and worked for an insurance company as a file clerk. On April 30, 1932, she married John Gustafson. In 1936, they moved to Albert City and started farming. They continued farming until 1963 when they retired from farming and built a new home in Albert City. Her husband, John, passed away January 16, 1976. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Richard, Carroll, Norman and Karen.
Evelyn was a dedicated wife and mother. She took great pride in providing for her family. Typical of a survivor of “hard times”, she could make something out of nothing. When she was in her mid-nineties, neighbors and friends would bring her extra produce from the gardens as they knew Evelyn would not let anything go to waste. She also enjoyed working in her flower beds, reading, listening to gospel music and sharing a cup of coffee and a cookie with a friend. She was an inspiration to her children and grandchildren because of her positive can-do attitude. She truly was blessed with grit. She had strong faith and often commented about the long life the Lord had given her. She was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church and served on the Church Council and various committees at her church. She especially enjoyed the fellowship of working the church kitchen with her friends. She moved to the Pleasant View Nursing Home in 2003.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John; her son, Richard; two grandsons, Rick and Bill Gustafson; her parents; four brothers; and one sister. She is survived by her three children: Carroll and Judy Gustafson of Rock Rapids, Iowa, Norman and Janet Gustafson of Des Moines, Iowa, and Karen and Robert Hartman of Springfield, Missouri; eight grandchildren: Scott Gustafson, Shelly Peterson, Jill Chalstrom, Brad Gustafson, Annette Howard, Steve Gustafson, Allison McCarville and Erica Hartman; ten great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to either the Evangelical Covenant Church or Pleasant View Home, both in Albert City.
Funeral services will be held at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Albert City on Wednesday, November 8, 2006, at 11:00 am. The family will be at the church for visitation one hour prior to the service. The Sliefert Funeral Home of Albert City is in charge of the arrangements.
Copyright © 2006, Sliefert Funeral Homes
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