Stanley Leon Gustafson

Stanley Leon Gustafson, age 86, of Grand Island, formerly of Phillips, died early Tuesday morning, January 4, 2005, at Saint Francis Hospital in Grand Island.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, January 7, at the Monroe Evangelical Free Church north of Murphy. Rev. Mark Dunham will officiate. Interment will be in the Monroe Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 P.M. on Thursday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: STANLEY L. GUSTAFSON

Stanley L. Gustafson, the son of Walter Benjamin and Myrtle Huldah (Pearson) Gustafson, was born in Hamilton County, Nebraska on January 10, 1918 and died in Grand Island, Nebraska on January 4, 2005, at the age of 86.

Stanley grew up in the Hamilton County area and graduated from Phillips High School in 1936. He was a World War II veteran, serving his country from April, 1942 until December, 1945.

He was united in marriage to Marian G. Westlund on January 26,1946, at Monroe Evangelical Free Church.

Stan loved to farm and he was involved in farming all of his life until he retired. He continued to help on the farm as long as he was able.

Stan was a member of the Monroe Evangelical Free Church where he served as a deacon and held various positions in the church.

His life activities revolved around his church and his family. In addition to these, he served on various boards in the community and for many years he served on the Bader Park Board. He was active for many years in the Hall County and Hamilton County Association for Retarded Citizens.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Those who remain to cherish his memory are his wife, Marian; three sons, Randall (Linda) of Phillips, David of Grand Island and Craig (Rachel) of Phillips; one daughter, Joyce (Mark) Dunham of Aurora; two sisters, Ann Gustafson of Lincoln and Delores (Rodney) Wendell of Axtell, Nebraska; one brother, Eugene (Rae) Gustafson of Aurora; six grandchildren, Rachelle (Trey) Swanson, Kristin Gustafson, Travis and Jaclyn Gustafson, Seth and Ryan Dunham and two great grandchildren, Emma and Jack Swanson.