GUSTAFSON, Jean 1951-2004

GUSTAFSON, SPIEKER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/24/2019 at 17:38:14

Jean M. Gustafson

Jean Marie Gustafson, 53, of 1007 Ninth St., Kalona, Iowa, died peacefully at home surrounded by love on July 17, 2004.

Jean's life exemplified all that is Iowa and all this is good. Born to Allen and Matilda Spieker on Jan. 11, 1951, she grew up on a farm in Grundy County. Jean was a graduate of Central College in Pella, Iowa, where she met many lifelong friends, including her husband, Charles R. Gustafson.

Jean and Charles were married in a country church near Wellsburg on Aug. 3, 1974. Their first daughter, Erin, was stillborn. They were blessed with two more daughters, Andrea and Tamra, who are currently studying at Simpson College in Indianola.

In addition to her loving husband and daughters, Jean is survived by sister, Maxine (John) Heath of Houston, Texas; brother, Jay Spieker or rural Wellsburg; sister, Dr. Ruth Spieker (Neil Webster) of Iowa City; sister-in-law, Joyce (Lowell) Bauer of Mitchellville; seven nephews and three nieces. Cherished memories include Jean's large family dinners.

She was predeceased by her infant daughter (1982), her father (1994) and mother (2003). When her mother's health failed during her final years, Jean stepped in to help.

Jean was a loyal employee and loyal friend to many at ACT, where she was a financial analyst for 30 years. She was very happy to be a part of ACT when it was a "family focused company." Jean will be remembered for many acts of kindness, including the lunches she catered during her disability leave.

As an active member of the Kalona Methodist Church, Jean spent many "vacation" hours baking and quilting for the church. During her illness, she also worked resolutely on quilts for her daughters, nieces, and nephews.

Never shy about her political beliefs and with a strong sense of community, Jean served on the Kalona City Council for eight years, and as its mayor for the past five years. Kalona became her home and its people her friends.

Like her father and grandmother before her, Jean was an avid Cubs fan. When stricken with pancreatic cancer the same year the Cubs' World Series bid slipped away, she was heard to say, "Maybe God will grant that miracle to me this year." This was not to be, for God has called His angel home. Her sense of humor and unselfish generosity will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

--Waterloo Courier (Waterloo, Iowa), 19 July 2004, pg 8