A. Stina Gustafson

GUSTAFSON, Mrs. A. Stina
Of Kalamazoo

She was born in Smedjebacken, Sweden on March 9, 1920 to Carl Emil Peterson and Agnes Sophia (Sjoblom) Peterson and came to the United States at the age of two. She was married to Carl H. Gustafson, Jr. (1917 - 1995). She is survived by two sons, Wayne E. Gustafson and wife, Phebe, of Ithaca, NY and Ronald C. Gustafson and wife, Joan, of Kalamazoo, MI; three grandchildren, Scott R. Gustafson, and wife, Cheryl, of Gulf Breeze, FL, Haley J. Gustafson, and fiancé, Chaston Querbach, of Grand Rapids, MI, and Luke A. Gustafson of Ithaca, NY; two step-great-granddaughters, Brittany and Raina Jackson of Gulf Breeze, FL. She was predeceased by a brother, O. Eric Peterson of Hyannis, MA. Stina was a lifetime church musician who in her teens began playing piano for the Quinsigamond Corp of the Swedish Salvation Army in Worcester, MA. She began playing organ in the early '60's at Chaffin Congregational Church, Holden, MA and continued her career as organist and choir director until her retirement at age 85! She had a great love for learning and she received her Associates Degree from Cape Cod Community College at the age of 72. A characteristic statement about her ministry of music comes from the history of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Holden, MA where Stina was organist and choir director for many years: "Stina loved music and she loved working with people who love music. In addition to her work with the regular choirs, she organized a singing group just for fun and recreation. This became a project for three churches and they originally presented an Epiphany concert… Stina also developed a 'training choir' for children who then moved to the junior choir, which sang regularly at a family service. Some were around long enough to lend their voices to the senior choir. Stina Gustafson continued as our organist and choir director (until 1986, when she and Carl moved to Cape Cod.) Her enthusiasm spilled over into the quality of congregational singing. It was always a joyful thing to sing praises unto the Lord." On Cape Cod, Stina played and directed the choirs at the Harwich United Methodist Church for 18 years until her retirement at age 85. Since moving to Portage, MI in 2005, the music at St. Luke's Episcopal Church has enriched her last years. She was a long time member of the American Guild of Organists and the Swedish Vasa Order of America Lodge. A Memorial Service in celebration of her life will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 247 W. Lovell St., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 at 11:00 AM, on Monday, February 2, 2009, with The Rev. Beth McLaren officiating. A time of fellowship will follow the service. Her cremains will be interred with her husband's at the National Cemetery in Bourne, MA. Memorial gifts in her memory may be made to any Salvation Army Corp or the Choristers Fund of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

JOLDERSMA & KLEIN
917 S. Burdick
343-2628