Carl Gustafson

A memorial to celebrate the life of former Laramie and Rawlins resident and educator, Carl Stanley Gustafson, will be held Saturday April 6th at Lincoln Community Center in Laramie, Wyoming. Mr. Gustafson passed away in Rawlins, Wyoming at Kindred Care Center on March 8th, 2013. He was 90 years old. Mr. Gustafson moved to Laramie in 1950 where he was a prominent educator for many years until the late 1970's. He started teaching at Washington School before becoming the principal of Lincoln School in 1952 where he continued for over 20 years. The Lincoln Community Center, along with Mr. Gustafson's four children, will be having an Open House from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m at the Community Center in the old gym. There will be a short introduction to welcome the guests, then a brunch will be served and memories shared. We encourage any of Mr. Gustafson's former students and teachers to come and share memories with the family. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations for a scholarship fund for underprivileged children that they will be setting up in Mr. Gustafson's name in conjunction with the Lincoln Community Center. Checks can be made payable to: UniWyo-Gustafson Scholarship. Carl Stanley Gustafson was born June 12, 1922 in Spearfish, South Dakota. His family lived on the campus of what was Black Hills Teacher's College, now Black Hills University. Mr. Gustafson relished the fact that he was the only student that had been born on the very campus where he attended college. Mr. Gustafson's father worked for the college as a farmer, providing the school with produce and milk from the farmland behind the school. The water-boy for the family at this time was the former University of Wyoming football coach, Floyd Eaton. "Stan" as Mr. Gustafson was better known, was the son of Carl Gustaf Gustafson and Rose Pauline (Carlson) Gustafson. He graduated from Spearfish High School and went on to attend Black Hills Teachers College graduating with a B.S Degree. He continued his education and received two M.A. degrees from the University of Wyoming, one in Elementary Education in 1954 and one in History in 1961. In 1962, Stan received one of 102 Scholarships awarded in the United States to the summer Institute on Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. Stan was the first Wyoming educator to serve on the Executive Committee of the National Department of Elementary School Principals, a branch of the National Education Association. He served two consecutive three year terms. Stan was also the head of the Head Start Program when it first began in Laramie and soon after was selected to appear in the 1967-68 edition of Outstanding Personalities of the West and Midwest. Only persons who have greatly served their community, state and/or nation are recognized in this manner. Stan also served as president of the Laramie Elementary School Principals Association for two years Stan was also active NEA, WEA, Laramie EA, Wyoming ESPA, Laramie ESPA, I.R.A., Kappa Delta Phi, Chi Gamma Iota. He was also Vice-President, LEA, 1958-60. He was President of LESPA 1959-61. He was the Albany County delegate, WEA Assembly, 1955-57. Stan was the Chairman of Group Relations for the Wyoming Cong. of Parents and Teachers from 1953-58. Stan was LEA Chairman for American Education Week from 1958-60, on the Board of Directors for the Wyoming Society of Crippled Children and Adults from 1954-59 and served as their state President from 1956 through 1957. Stan was very active in the Laramie Music community serving on the Laramie Musical Arts Association board as well as being the City Chairman for National Music Week from 1954-56. Stan was also listed in Who's Who in American Education. Stan was also an active member of the Laramie Art Guild. Stan first started his teaching career teaching political science and music in Washington, South Dakota and Nebraska. He moved to Laramie in 1950, becoming elementary school principal at Lincoln School in 1952 where he stayed until the late 1970's. He was dedicated to his students and teachers. Stan was also involved in Eastern Star where he served as Worthy Patron. In January of 1952 he became a Master Mason in the Laramie Masonic Lodge #3 and had just celebrated his 61st anniversary as a member. Stan was also involved in Jobs Daughters and Demolay. Stan was a professional pianist and tenor vocalist. His love of music was immense and many enjoyed his performances for decades in various forums and at various events. He played the piano on a daily basis from age four until age 88 when his health took a turn for the worse. Beethoven was his ultimate favorite musician and he would play his music with a true understanding and passion. Stan was also an avid gardener, he loved planting trees and flowers. When he was principal at Lincoln School he would make sure each of his teachers' rooms had geraniums he transplated for them from his summer garden. Stan loved to travel and had a passion for geography. Over the course of his life time, Stan memorized every capitol of every country in the world known to man. He took great pride in this accomplishment and would challenge visitors to test him. He never got stumped. Stan was a true lover of life and fought hard in his most frail last days to hang on a little longer. Because of Stan's love for his students and education, his four children have decided to set up a scholarship fund in their father's name for underprivaleged children so they are able to purchase school supplies for the school year. Therefore, Stan's four children ask that instead of flowers, please make checks out to UniWyo-Gustafson Scholarship to help the kids. Stan is survived by his four children and their spouses: Carl Alan Gustafson and his wife Linda of El Cajon, California, Stanley David Gustafson and his wife Hilda of Laramie, Wyoming, Linnaea Marie Kimble and her husband Jeff of Centennial, Wyoming and Linden Lee Gustafson and his wife Lisa of Rawlins, Wyoming; Fifteen grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and one great, great granddaughter who was born three weeks before his death. Please feel free to join the family in celebrating Stan's life on April 6th from 11 to 3 at the Lincoln Community Center at 365 W. Grand in West Laramie. It's casual, it's a celebration of a long, full life.

Service

Saturday, April 6, 2013 11:00am