Russell E. Gustavson age 88, of Hackettstown, NJ died Tuesday April 10, 2018 at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ after a brief stay. Russ was born April 22, 1929, in Bloomfield, NJ. He is the son of the late Elmer G. and Bertha (Johnson) Gustavson
of Bloomfield, NJ. In addition to his parents, Russ is preceded in death by his beloved wife and high school sweetheart, Carol (Ferdon) Gustavson, who passed in 2015, and a brother, Elmer G. Gustavson, who passed in 1998.
Russ was a loving and devoted husband of 64 years and father of four. Russ was a proud athlete, as quarterback of the undefeated 1946 state champion Montclair High School Mounties, and later on scholarship at Colgate University, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He proudly served his country in Korea as a Corporal in Army Signal Corp with top secret clearance. He was a lifetime employee of Home Life Insurance as a Certified Life Underwriter in group sales and a mentor to many and was a Mason with the McKinley Lodge #318 of Pittsburgh, PA. Carol and Russ were adoption reform movement activists, supporting the rights of adopted persons to their birth information and records, as well as supporting both adoptive and birthparents across the US.
He is survived by two sons: Gary Gustavson and wife Michelle, Jeffrey Gustavson, two daughters: Susan Gustavson, Cindy Tananis and wife Nancy Mantz, a brother Don Gustavson and wife Marilyn, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Russell’s memorial will be held at Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 on June 23rd, 2018 from 12:00p-3:00p followed by a gathering of friends and family. His ashes will be spread at Cape Cod, to join with his wife on the sand flats of Brewster where they spent many wonderful times together. Russ and Carol are together again, for eternity, smiling with us all now, in the beauty of their loving relationship. Friends and family are encouraged to remember his love and joy of life, and his devotion to family and friends.
For those desiring, donations may be made to in memory of Russell E. Gustavson to the Wounded Warrior Project, at woundedwarriorproject.org