Ruth Doris Ostlund-Carlson
GLADSTONE — Ruth Doris Ostlund Carlson, age 98 of Gladstone, Mich. passed away peacefully with family at her side on Sunday, June 8, at Sunny View Foster Care in Flat Rock, Mich. Ruth was born on November 16, 1926 in Escanaba, the daughter of John E. and Anna (Kositzke) Gustafson. She attended the one room Carroll School until the 8th grade, and graduated from Escanaba High School in 1943 at the age of 16. She was confirmed at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran in Gladstone on July 29, 1940. After graduation, she attended Cloverland Commercial College and then went on to work at the A.C. Neilson Company in Chicago as a secretary.
After World War II, she married the love of her life and high school sweetheart Rune Ostlund. The couple were united in marriage on June 28, 1947 at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Gladstone, Michigan. They spent 35 loving years together and raised their three children in Flat Rock, Gladstone and Escanaba. Ruth worked side by side with Rune when they built their three homes. When their children were older Ruth went to work at JC Penney in the sewing and material department. Many customers still remember her as the “sewing lady” at Penneys. She retired after 35 years. Ruth and Rune loved to travel around the U.S. From Florida, to the Southwest and California, they also made two trips to Sweden (Rune’s birth country). Rune preceded her in death on November 2, 1982. Ruth’s faith was very important to her and she was a lifelong member of Salem Ev. Lutheran Church in Escanaba and attended The Women’s Wels Ministry group in different areas of the country, especially in her later years.
On September 26, 1992 Ruth married Ray Carlson at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Escanaba and he preceded her in death in January of 1998. Ruth and Ray spent six happy years together traveling around the United States in their Dodge Road Trek. She also hosted many Coffee Condo parties where she lived her last 20 years. Ruth was a talented seamstress and made clothes and beautiful quilts for everyone in the family. All her children and grandchildren proudly displayed their colorful designed quilts in their homes over the years. Her quilt legacy will live on in our homes for generations. (Everything was designed and sewed by hand)
Ruth is survived by: children, Cheryl (Bill) Gasperich, Kristine (Bernie) Clements and Mark (Lana) Ostlund, all of Gladstone, Mich.; grandchildren, Britt-Ann (Jeff) Blawat, of New Berlin, Wis.., Arlo (Lolita) Abrahamson, London England, Leif (Jacqui) Abrahamson, Surprise, Ariz., and Tyler Ostlund of Escanaba, Mich.; stepgrandchildren, Ron Clements, Faith Clements, Ben (Bailey) Clements, Danielle (Shivum) Agarwal; great-grandchildren, (Arlo) Annika and Aseah Abrahamson, (Britt-Ann), Deven Mannan and (Leif ) Luka Abrahamson.; step great-grandchildren R.J., David, Brock, Ava, Yogi, Aria, and Ishaan; step great-great-grandchild Emmaline; sister, Barbara (Roger) Anderson of Mendota, Ill., and sister-in-law, Marilyn Luhman of Surprise, Ariz. and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husbands, Ruth was preceded in death by: brother, Robert Gustafson, sister, Lorraine Terlinden and brother-in-law, Holger Ostlund and an infant granddaughter, Rachel Ostlund.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 14 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Salem Ev. Lutheran Church, 615 So. 30th Street in Escanaba. Funeral services will be held at noon Saturday at the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church with Rev. Paul Doletzky officiating. Lunch will be served after the service in the fellowship hall of the church. Burial will take place in the Fernwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Salem Ev. Lutheran Church in memory of Ruth Ostlund-Carlson. The Anderson Funeral Homes of Escanaba and Gladstone are assisting the family with the arrangements and online condolences can be sent to the family at 
.