Obituaries

 

Evelyn G. Gustafson

PORTAGE –  Evelyn G. Gustafson, age 94, of Portage, died on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at Columbia Healthcare Center in Wyocena.

Evelyn was born on April 18, 1917 in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Eldo and Gunda (Nelson) Peterson.  When Evelyn was two years of age, her mother died of complications of pregnancy.  Feeling that they could provide a better life for Evelyn than a single-parent father, her grandparents, John and Laura Nelson, convinced Evelyn’s father to let them raise Evelyn.  Her grandmother came to America from Norway and taught Evelyn many of the values of a good Christian life.  Her grandfather was a tailor by trade and this may have resulted in Evelyn’s love of sewing.

When Evelyn was 16, her grandmother took her on a train trip to Chicago, Illinois.  As Evelyn sat on the train with her grandmother, she felt a tug on her pigtail.  When she turned around, she looked into the eyes of the man who was to become her husband, Harry Gustafson.  Two years after meeting, they had married, moved to Omaha, Nebraska, and brought Marjorie, the first of their four children, into the world.  In 1936, their second child, Larry was born in Omaha, Nebraska.  Harry and Evelyn struggled against hard times during the depression, and in 1937 moved to Portage, Wisconsin, where Harry found work with the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad.  Sharon Elaine and Thomas Alan, their third and fourth children, were born in Portage in 1943 and 1946 respectively.

Evelyn was active in Brownies and Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts during her children’s school years.  She made many of the outfits for her daughters’ participation in the Girl Scout Jamborees and it was there that Evelyn met her long time friend, Neva Taylor.  She loved sewing and made many gifts for friends and enjoyed making unique outfits for her daughter’s baton twirling competitions. 

Evelyn worked many jobs to supplement the family’s income.  Due to her working outside the home, the family was able to enjoy many cross-country trips and Harry and Evelyn were one of the first couples in town to travel to the Bahamas.  Daytona Beach, Florida was a favorite destination;  a vacation they shared many years with Robert and Bert Hutchings.  Evelyn’s most recent job, prior to her retirement in 1972, was as a receptionist at The Galley Studio in Portage.  She was employed there for 17 years, being there long enough to help in the taking of many generations of family pictures.  She had a gift for remembering the names of all the customers and their children, and could be counted on to relate family histories when asked.

She intensely disliked her middle name and threatened to disown any of her children who would divulge that information.  It is the hopes of her children that those people who for so long have been curious about her name, read the obituary closely and from there it is hoped you will be able to ascertain what her middle name was.

She was a member of the Portage Presbyterian Church for over 50 years.  She served her church as a Deacon and was active on many church committees throughout her life.  Evelyn also belonged to the Railroad Women’s Club, U.T.U., and Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry in 1992, and her grandson, Thomas Gustafson, II, in 2009.  Survivors include her children, Marjorie (George Pires) Galli, Clear Lake, CA, Larry (Sandra) Gustafson, Portage, Sharon (William) Goetz, Portage, and Thomas (Peggy) Gustafson, Beloit;  seven grandchildren, Steven Teske, Rockford, IL, Timothy (Mary) Teske, Yuba City, CA, Jeffery (Lisa) Gustafson, Windsor, WI, Michael (Marlo) Gustafson, Portage, Gregory (Lisa Wray) Goetz, Portage, Kristine (Josh) Goetz Acker, Waunakee, and Angela Perry, Poplar Grove, IL;  twelve great-grandchildren; and many dear friends, especially Dale and Jane Gray, Jill Porzel, and Dorothy Pfaff.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at the Portage Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. David Hankins officiating.  Burial will follow in Silver Lake Cemetery.   Friends may call at the church on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

The Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage is assisting the family.

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)