Bert Ritzel Gustafson

Bert Ritzel Gustafson, the son of August and Augusta Johnson Gustafson was born January 1, 1924, at his parents home near Aurelia, Iowa and died March 16, 2009, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 85 years, 2 months and 15 days.
Bert was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alta, Iowa. When Bert was young the family returned to Sweden where Bert started school. They returned to the United States in the early 1930s. Bert completed his schooling in Aurelia. On January 5, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Marines. During his tour of duty he served in the Pacific Theater, seeing action at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Saipan and the Marianas Islands. He was honorably discharged on March 1, 1946, and returned to the Aurelia area and helped operate the family farm.
On September 5, 1948, Bert was united in marriage to Joyce Elaine Miller at Mapleton, Iowa. They made their home for one year at Hanover before moving to their farm between Cherokee and Aurelia. Their union was blessed with four children, Mark, Janet, Grant and Ann.
Bert and Joyce retired from farming and sold their farm in 1984. They lived in the Cherokee, Iowa area for a short time then in 1986 they moved to Denison, Iowa. Bert was employed as a salesman for Petersen Manufacturing selling concrete products until he fully retired. Joyce died April 28, 2001, following a long illness. After her death Bert moved to Audubon later in 2001. He enjoyed traveling, woodworking, and being with family and friends. He moved into the Friendship Home January 1, 2009.
Bert was a member of Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon. While residing in the Cherokee area he was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. After moving to Denison he joined Our Saviors Lutheran Church where he served on the Evangelism Committee and served on various other boards. He was also a member of the Lions Club in Audubon.
Preceding him in death in addition to his wife and parents were his sisters: Myrtle Gustafson and Gladys Fogelman; his brothers-in-law: Harold Miller and Chalmers Miller.
Survivors include his children: Mark Gustafson of Audubon, Iowa; Janet and husband James Tinker of Audubon; Grant and wife Joan Gustafson of Clemmons, North Carolina; Ann and husband David Stubbendeck of Omaha, Nebraska; his grandchildren: Heidi, Benjamin (B.J.), Ashley, Will, Matthew, Trent, Shanna, Gwen, Brock and Christian; 3 great grandchildren; his brothers: Rune and wife Shirley Gustafson of Alta, Iowa; Stewart and wife Nita Gustafson of Storm Lake, Iowa; his sisters-in-law: Bernice Gurtz of Mapleton, Iowa; Audra Miller of Suffolk, Virginia; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Aurelia, Iowa at 3:30 Thursday afternoon.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Wednesday evening at 6:00 at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 10:30 A.M. at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Services will be conducted by Pastor Christopher Martin.