Erickson Funeral Home
Fred Henry Gustafson, age 91, of Shullsburg, Wisconsin, formerly of Hampshire, Illinois passed away at home on Monday, July 15, 2024. He was born August 21, 1932 in Elgin, Illinois to Harvey Daniel and Marie Hermine (Ihnen) Gustafson. Fred graduated from Hampshire High School in 1950 and married Mary Elizabeth Durrenberger on November 29, 1951 in Elgin, Illinois. After high school he worked for McGraw Edison Toastmaster. He then moved on to the Elgin Casket Company and had a side business bronzing items such as baby shoes. Fred began farming in 1960 as a dairy and hog on a farm that his father farmed on up to that time. Over the years he added custom work such as combining and backhoe to his resume. He was skilled at carpentry and sheet metal work as well as excavating. He owned, operated, and retired from Dolphin Marble in Shullsburg and then worked part time for a plumber, and an electrician before retiring again. There wasn't a thing he couldn't tackle and figure out. Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren described him as inventive, unique, talented, selfless, someone to always have fun with, caring, steadfast, creative, imaginative, always interested in us, a great role model, and funny. He always looked for a project to keep himself busy. He enjoyed water skiing, sailing, started wind surfing at the age of 70, and after that tried his hand at musical keyboarding and dabbling in different art medias. He helped build a plane in his mid 70's. He worked part-time grass trimming at the Evergreen Cemetery in his early 80's. His last wind surfing took place at age 90, sailing and paddle boarding at 91. He enjoyed life to the fullest, never wanting to stop trying new things and learning something new.
Fred is survived by two daughters: Sheryl (Fred) Awe of Lewisville, Texas and Lee Ann (Leslie) Langlo of Elgin, Illinois: four grandchildren: Becky (David) Johannsen, Aaron Awe, Eric (Megan) Langlo, and Michael (Elizabeth) Langlo: four great-grandchildren: Kaden Awe, Keera Awe, Reid Johannsen, and Evan Langlo. He is also survived by a brother Ralph Gustafson, of Cuba City, Wisconsin and a sister Anna Wakefield, of Dublin, California. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Mary; his parents; and three siblings David (at birth), Daniel, and Harvey Jr.
A visitation will be held Thursday, July 18, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Erickson Funeral Home, 235 N Judgement St., Shullsburg, WI 53586. The funeral service will be held Friday, July 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Erickson Funeral Home with Laurie Klar, Chaplain, conducting a celebration of life. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Shullsburg. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Medical Associates' Dr. Cheryl Morgan-Ihrig and her staff along with nurses and staff of Mercy One Cancer Center as well as St Croix Hospice for compassionate care and loving support.
Memorials may be given to Mercy One Cancer Center, Attn: Dr. Cheryl Morgan-Ihrig 150 Mercy Dr., Dubuque, IA 52001 or St Croix Hospice, 115 W Main St., Platteville, WI 53818.
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