Template Tools
| Allan Gustafson, 63 |
 |
 |
| Written by TRF Times |
 Thief River Falls - Allan “Al” Gustafson, 63, died peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 at his home in Thief River Falls.Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 2, at the United Methodist Church in Thief River Falls, with Rev. Rob Kopp officiating. Casket bearers included Al’s brothers and cousins from the Gustafson Adventures Hunting Cabin. Honorary casket bearers included Al’s friends. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer service on Thursday, March 1, at the United Methodist Church in Thief River Falls. Visitation will also be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday at the church. Allan Ray Gustafson, Jr. was born on March 29, 1948 at Kittson Memorial Hospital in Hallock, the oldest son of Allan Ray and Sylvia (Downs) Gustafson. Al graduated from Hallock High School in 1966. He attended the University of Minnesota Crookston 1966-1968. He graduated from North Dakota State University Fargo in 1970 with a degree in Agriculture (soils). He has worked for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly known as Soil Conservation Service) since 1969. On June 24, 1972, Al was united in marriage to Pauline Ann Standfuss in Danube. On Oct. 2, 1982 Al and Pauline adopted a baby boy, Derek Lee. His employment history (as written by Al): Summer 1969, Thief River Falls - soil scientist; 1970-1972, Marshall - soil scientist; 1973, St. Peter - soil scientist; 1973-1974, Crookston - soil conservationist;?1974-1976, McIntosh - district conservationist; 1976-1992, Thief River Falls - district conservationist; 1993-1998, Red Lake Falls - coordinator for Pembina Trail RC&D (per Al: Rolls, Coffee & Donuts); 1998-2010, Thief River Falls - area resource conservationist; 2011 - retired! Al was a member of the United Methodist Church in Thief River Falls and the Experimental Aircraft Association. Al loved hockey … he started playing hockey as a little boy in Hallock. He also played for Hallock High School, Crookston Senior Pirates and Thief River Oldtimers. He started the Marshall youth hockey program in 1970. Al started as a hockey referee in 1980 and continued on as a referee and playing oldtimers hockey until the time of his passing. Al served as mentor to many of the younger referees. Al loved hunting … he grew up hunting and shooting. He hunted squirrels, gophers, weather vanes, brothers with his BB gun, deer, grouse, elk, geese and pheasants; and he loved his hunting dogs and the solitude of nature. He enjoyed many fishing excursions with his son, Derek, his good friend, Gunner, and many other friends too numerous to mention. Al loved flying … he took his first solo flight in December 15, 1973. He bought his prize possession 1947 Cessna 140 Taildragger in 1976; and has logged many hours through the years. His last flight was just this winter. Al loved his family … he is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Polly Gustafson of Thief River Falls; son, Derek (Heather) Gustafson of Grand Forks, N.D.; parents, Allan and Sylvia Gustafson of Hallock; brothers, Bob (Jane) Gustafson of Fargo, N.D., and Bruce (Marilyn) Gustafson of Lancaster; nephews and niece, Jason (Ann) Gustafson, Greta (fiancé, Bobby Strom) Gustafson, and Jacob (Karoline) Gustafson; grandnephew, Benjamin Bruce Gustafson; aunts, Dorothy Gustafson and Lue Gustafson; uncle, Jim Gustafson; twelve first cousins; Polly’s dad, Gustave Standfuss; and the rest of the Standfuss and Groen families. Al loved his friends… Condolences may be left for the family at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com. A00003B2012FB29  |
