LARRY GUSTAFSON

1955 - 2011

Larry Gustafson, 55, of Cordova, Ill., died on Aug. 11, 2011, at his home surrounded by his family, after a two-and-a-half-year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

A graveside service will be held at the Cordova Cemetery at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19. According to Larry's wishes, his brain and spinal cord were harvested and will be used for ALS research conducted by the Northwestern University Neuromuscular Disorder Program in Chicago.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to MDA/ALS Research or Genesis Hospice. Gibson Funeral Home of Port Byron, www.gibsonfuneralhomes.com, is handling the arrangements.

Larry was born on Dec. 27, 1955, in Sycamore, the son of Evelyn M. (Harvey) and William B. Gustafson. He married Sandra Smalley Jepson on Oct. 12, 1985, and became an immediate parent to Scott "Andy" Jepson, who was 9 years old.

After graduation from Genoa-Kingston High School, Class of 1974, Larry continued to work at the family business-Gustafson's Auto Parts. In 1988, he enrolled in an Aviation Maintenance Program at Rock Valley College in Rockford and attained A&P Certification in 1990. He had continued to work part-time at Gustafson's throughout his two-and-a-half-year coursework, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and earning the Machesney Memorial Scholarship in 1989.

When Larry's dad retired in 1993, Larry went to work at Ideal Industries in Sycamore where he earned the rating of Master Mechanic in their industrial operations. Sandy retired from the Sycamore School District in 2004, and Larry left Ideal Industries at that same time. They moved to Cordova, where their goal was to build a home on the banks of the Mississippi River.

This goal was achieved in August 2006, when they moved into their new home which Larry so loved and where he was able to live for the remainder of his life. Larry loved fishing, home maintenance, landscaping, bonfires on the riverbank with family and friends and, probably most of all, traveling the Mississippi on his beloved boat, the "SeaNile."

Larry is survived by his wife of 25 years; son and daughter-in-law, Scott "Andy" and Carole Jepson; grandson, Andrew Jepson; mother, Evelyn Gustafson; sister and her husband, Leslie Gustafson Knur Underwood and Michael "Woody" Underwood; nephew Cody Knur; niece Abbey Knur; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jill and Chuck Smalley; nephew Travis Smalley; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lynn (Smalley) Lewis Fidlar and Jim Fidlar; and nephew Mac Lewis. He was preceded in death by his grandparents; father William B. Gustafson; brother-in–law Roland "Mike" Knur; nephew Isaac Smalley; and niece Renee Lewis.

Sandy would like to thank his caregivers: Carole, Andy, Andrew, Leslie, Woody, nurse-niece Abbey, Cody, Lynn, Lincare LPN Jessica and Genesis Hospice nurse, Trisha. Also, a warm "thank you" is extended to his River Road neighbors who have visited and offered much support, comfort and assistance throughout Larry's illness. A "thank you" also goes out to his doctors at Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, Department of Neurology in Chicago, Dr. James Lindley, Genesis Health Group and MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association), Davenport District.