Marilyn T. Gustafson

She was born in Escanaba on December 5, 1932, daughter of William and Ann (Kahl) O’Connell. She attended Escanaba High School and graduated in 1950.

Marilyn married Adolph “Gus” Gustafson on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1953, in Escanaba. They spent 43 wonderful years together and were blessed with three children.

She spent most of her life as a homemaker but Marilyn also had some cleaning jobs including some business offices and also babysat in her spare time.

Some hobbies Marilyn enjoyed were playing cribbage with her husband before his passing. She was an avid reader and especially like ‘seek and find’ books. She enjoyed taking Sunday rides up into the country and picking blueberries with her family in Stonington. Marilyn LOVED the Green Bay Packers. She walked a lot during her younger years and even completed the Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk twice. Any chance she had “Miss Marilyn” would go to Elmer’s County Market and talk to everyone she could. One of her favorite holiday traditions was reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to her family on Christmas Eve.

Marilyn is survived by her children, Diane (Ron) Tryan of Escanaba and Scott (Tammy) Gustafson of Escanaba; grandchildren, Tiffany (Mikayel) Vietzke, Jason Gustafson (friend, Savannah Demars) and Payton Gustafson (fiance, Adam Scheeneman); great-grandchildren, Linkin Vietzke, Liam Vietzke, Breckin Gustafson and Brooks Scheeneman; brother, Ed O’Connell of Texas; special nieces, Penny Stupak and Suzanne Coyne; close friends, Bruce and Martha Carlyon, and Sue Valiquette; along with several loved nieces and nephews.

Along with her husband, Adolph “Gus”, Marilyn is preceded in death by her son, Dale Gustafson; parents, William and Ann O’Connell; sister, Ann Fisher; brothers, George O’Connell, William O’Connell, and Harold “Spike” O’Connell; sisters-in-law, Mary O’Connell, Dottie O’Connell, Marie O’Connell and Mary O’Connell; and brother-in-law, Warren Fisher.

A visitation will take place on Thursday, October 3 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home, 302 S 13 St. Escanaba, MI 49829. Rev. Fran DeGroot will have a closing prayer at the conclusion of the visitation at 2 p.m. A graveside service will immediately follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.

A special thank you to North Woods Home Care and Hospice for the loving care they provided to Marilyn.

A message of condolence can be directed to the family at www.crawfordfuneralhomes.net. The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the Gustafson family.