Gustafson, John Carl Alfred 1833-1920

GUSTAFSON, PETERSON, FOSSTON, WALSTEAD

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 4/26/2016 at 10:01:17

Storm Lake Pilot Tribune - February 6, 1920 - Every life, could it be truly recorded, has in it all the elements of a great biography. Into it has entered all of hope and fear, of noble aspiration and sordid necessity, of disappointment and fruition. It is only that the mingled tragedy and comedy of the average existence seldom reaches to record they are for self-development and soul-discipline, even unconsciously to the individual himself. Outstanding deeds and merits of the few must stand as representative of the generations.

Unknown almost, beyond the little circle of his friends, he filled the place assigned by fate with honor and with good to his generation. There is a heroism of the common life, that rarely gains to recognition — the daily pitting of one's self against adverse circumstances, the gaining from the days their meaning and their good. It is much, at the end, to leave in the remembrance of even a few, the knowledge of simple honor and honesty, carried into the small things that are for most the summing of the years. He serves well-perhaps best in his generation who has asked no more than the opportunity of the labor at hand; who has so labored that his children shall follow him better fitted than himself to take up the struggles of their time. For of very truth no life, if truly lived, can fail of its reward.

Carl John Alfred Gustafson was born at Solberga, Smoland, Sweden, on April 15, 1833, and died at his home in Storm Lake on the evening of January 30, 1920.

In his native country he took up the trade of carpenter, and worked at this for many years. He was married on March 13, 1866 while still in Sweden to Miss Charlotte Peterson. To this union eight children were born, all but one in the old country. Of these three survive — Charles A., of Tracy, Minn.; Mrs. Anna Fosston, of Minneapolis; and J Eric of Peru, IL. There were also 3 grandchildren: Vera and Helen Fosston and Clarence Walsted.

Mr Gustafson and his family after spending two years in Stockholm, Sweden, came to this country and at once to Buena Vista county, where he had since resided and labored. For so many years was he in the employ of the Illinois Central railroad that he became eligible to the retirement with pension granted by that corporation.

Death was immediately caused by cerebral apoplexy, as a result of arterial sclerosis. In truth the end came as a result of age, and he has long faced the sunset slope of life, approaching gradually the darkened gate. Another soldier of the common life, undistinguished among the many of his kind, has ended his campaigning with honor, and has passed to the rest that is for valiant souls and true.

The funeral services were conducted in the Swedish Lutheran church on Tuesday afternoon, by Rev. Erb of the Baptist church, and the body was laid to rest in the Lake View Park cemetery in addition to the wife, children and grandchildren here, there are three brothers and a sister in Sweden who survive our departed friend.