Gustaf Albert Gustafson Jr. Obituary (1925 - 2012)

Clinton - Gus Gustafson, 86, passed away on Monday, March 19, 2012 at his home in Clinton following a lengthy illness. He was born on December 18, 1925 the son of Gustaf and Viola Gustafson. He was educated in Clinton schools and graduated from Clinton High School in 1943. Gus was a US Army veteran that served with 675 Glider Field Artillery Battalion as an automotive mechanic in Japan. He started dairy farming after leaving the service. He hauled milk, drove dump truck and worked for WS Pillsbury before farming full time. He was married to Hazel H. Ames on August 18, 1948. He and Hazel operated a dairy farm until 1981 and then continued to raise animals. In addition to farming he was involved in trucking and was also well known in the area for hauling water to fill swimming pools for over twenty years. Gus and Hazel traveled many enjoyable miles in their motor home across the US, Canada, Mexico and Alaska with their favorite traveling companions, Stan and Pat Ames (Hazel’s brother and sister-in-law). He is survived by his wife and two sons, Greg and his wife, Laurel, and Gary and his wife, Linda, all of Clinton. He enjoyed any time spent with his grandchildren Andrea and her husband Nick, Nathan and his wife Amanda, Garrett and his wife Danielle, and Katie. He also has five great-grandchildren Natalie, Wyatt, Gus, Ella and Hannah, and his longtime friend Jim “Dino” Dennis. Gus and his brother, Lawrence, married two of the Ames sisters from Canaan, Hazel and Virginia. Gus is also survived by his sister-in-law, Virginia and her children Jean Lee, David and his wife Naomi, Louise and her husband Wayne Sanders, Djuana and her husband Arthur Burnham, many nieces and nephews and a large extended family of brother and sister-in-laws. He is predeceased by his parents, Gustaf and Viola and his brother, Lawrence of Canaan. Visiting hours will be at the Smart and Edward Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine, from 1 to 2 o’clock on Friday March 23, 2012. A memorial services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Clinton later in the spring. Donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074