Wilton Harris Gustafson Madison, Minnesota Obituary

Wilton Harris Gustafson

<p>The Zahrbock Funeral Home of Madison announces the death of 96 year old Wilton Gustafson of Madison who passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at the Madison Health Care Service, Madison, MN</p><p>Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, January 30, 2023 at Providence Lutheran Church, Dawson, Minnesota. Rev. Kendall Stelter will officiate at the service.</p><p>Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church.</p><p>Burial will be in Providence Lutheran Cemetery.</p><p><br></p><p>The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be given to a charity of your choice.</p><p><br></p><p>Wilton Harris Gustafson was born on March 18, 1926 in Dawson, MN to William and Hazel (Johnson) Gustafson. He was baptized, confirmed and married at Providence Valley Lutheran Church (PVLC) in Dawson, MN. On June 17, 1950 he was united in marriage to Madalyn Tollakson and to this union three children were born: Marjorie, Cyd and Ruth.</p><p></p><p>Wilton attended country school District #59, graduated in 1944 from Madison High School and farmed with his father for the summer. He enlisted with the Merchant Marines and began his training in January at Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, NY. After graduating in April 1945 as an “Ordinary Seaman,” he was assigned to San Francisco and joined the Sailors Union of the Pacific. There he worked on ships carrying bombs and ammunition to the South Pacific. After the war, he continued to work as an “Able Bodied Seaman” on ships carrying freight to Hawaii, Japan, Philippines, Guam, and Korea, as well as intercoastal to Seattle, Los Angeles, Panama, Philadelphia, Boston and New York. He was discharged in June 1947 and returned home to farm again with his father. At that time he enjoyed hunting and fishing, and became active in the Farmers Union.</p><p></p><p>After farming 10 years, Wilton began working for Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) as a field representative, recruiting members for the organization. In 1965, he began driving the MFU Motorcoach for youth activities and co-op educational tours to GTA and CENEX. In 1973, MFU began offering sightseeing tours to all areas of the USA and Canada. Wilton organized the tours, drove the bus, and Madalyn served as the tour escort. Other trips included Mexico, Europe, Israel, China, Australia, and the South Pacific. They retired from MFU in 1990 and moved to Madison in 1994. Wilton then drove the bus for Prairie Five CAC for 10 years.</p><p></p><p>Wilton was a member of the LQP DFL, a LQP County Soil Conservation Supervisor, on the Board of Directors for MN Valley REC, and served on PVLC council. A highlight for him at age 96 was receiving the WWII bronze Congressional Medal for his service as a Merchant Marine.</p><p></p><p>In life, Wilton enjoyed being with his entire family. He had a love of music and could remember countless songs! Even at 96 he was singing them with a smile on his face to whomever was listening. He loved music so much that he even took his family to see The Beatles at Met Stadium in Minneapolis in 1965. His fondest memories were of dancing with his wife, and his special interests included gliding on his Segway, making punched tin lanterns, politics, traveling, flowers/gardening, all things Swedish, and reading. Wilton had a fondness for Time magazine articles and YouTube videos highlighting the latest technological advances around the world.</p><p><br></p><p>He is survived by his wife Madalyn, children Marjorie (Doug) Ness of Nampa, ID, Cyd (Marcus) Vick of Madison, MN, Ruth (Greg) Citrowske of Canby, MN. Grandchildren Hanna (John) McGee, Naomi (Rick) Gibbs, Ingrid (Pete) Schwingler, Abigail Ness, Micah (Angela) Ness, Greta (Ryan) Sapp, Josiah Ness, Austen (Haley) Citrowske, Cedric (Ashley) Citrowske, Haily Citrowske, Jack (Madelyn) Citrowske, Lydia Ness, and Tabitha (Ben) Innocent. Great grandchildren Madalyn and Maxwell McGee, Zander, Harrison, Emery, Claire and Zoey Citrowske, Tekla Schwingler, and counting!</p><p><br></p><p>Wilton is also survived by brother-in-law Kenneth Digre, cousin Shirley Fulmer, sisters-in-law Linda, Darlyne and Alice Tollakson, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters: Irene Sturgill, and Gloria Digre.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br><br></p><p></p><p><br><br></p><p></p>
March 18, 1926 - January 22, 202303/18/192601/22/2023
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robert bjornson
January 29, 2023
I rented Wilton's land for many years. Wilt was fun to visit with, honest and fair! Robert Bjornson
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Dave Beecher
January 27, 2023
Dave Beecher
My Uncle Ted used to go on the Farmers Union bus trips and my brother's Canby Votech ag class also did a field trip to the 'cities on Wilton's bus. Always a fun educational time with Wilton at the wheel. Prayers to the family.
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Phoebe Anderson
January 26, 2023
Thank you to the Gustafson Family for this amazing account of a long and well-lived life between bookends. Sending hope for heartfelt memories to all who loved this lifelong interest-filled gentleman. ~ Phoebe (Borstad) Anderson
Prairie Five Montevideo
January 26, 2023
Prayers going out to your family...You will be missed.. Montevideo Prairie Five kitchen staff
Butterfly was posted for Wilton Harris Gustafson.
Butterfly was posted for Wilton Harris Gustafson.
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Minnesota Farmers Union
January 25, 2023
Wilton was an integral part of Farmers Union all those years he drove the bus to and from events helping countless MN farm families. Our condolences.
Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum

Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum was purchased for the family of Wilton Harris Gustafson. Send flowers