Doug D. "Flash" Gustafson

Douglas "Flash" Daniel Gustafson, the son of Ronald. and ClaraJo (Danielson) Gustafson, was born on July 4, 1971, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was raised and educated in Eagle Grove, graduating from Eagle Grove High School – "Class of 1990". He then graduated from ICCC Diesel Mechanic's Program in 1992, and after graduation Doug moved to his grandparents' acreage in Harcourt.
Doug was in a long-term relationship that later ended, but during which he had the honor and privilege to help raise and mentor a young boy, Drake, whom he called son.
On August 1, 2009, Doug married Roz Nelson at the Evangelical Lutheran Church Chapel in Eagle Grove.
Flash – a nickname he gained while working for Smithway Motor Xpress/Western Express in Fort Dodge, until their closure in 2023. He currently worked for Georgia-Pacific.
Doug enjoyed hobby stock and vintage stock car racing and attending car shows – his favorite being the Vintage Torque Fest in Dubuque – a fundraiser for kids with congenital heart disease. He also had a fondness for collecting Ford memorabilia and rebuilt a 1952 Ford F100 in memory of his father and grandfather. Doug will always be remembered for the big role he played in their lives and the love he showed his nieces and nephew and helping them with their "Bucket of Junk" 4-H projects. He also adored spending time with his grandchildren. Doug will also be remembered for his kind, caring, generous, easy-goingpersonality and what a conversationalist he was.
Doug died unexpectedly on Friday, November 29, 2024, at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, at the age of 53 years. He was preceded in death by his father, Ron; grandparents, Reuben and Gwen Gustafson and Everett and Helen Danielson; greatgrandmother, Bertha Walgren; cousin, Bob Eich; uncle, Bart Danielson; grandparents-in-law, Gene and Marge Nelson and Marvin and Chloe Smith and beloved nephew, Arek "Ace" Asklund for whom he has built a die cast truck for every year since his death in 2001.
Doug is survived by his wife, Roz; mother, Jo Gustafson; sister, Chrisann Hodson (Alan); nieces, HannahJo Gustafson-Hodson and Elizabeth Hodson (Wyatt Thornton); nephew, Adam Hodson; son, Drake Oldson (Makayla) and their daughter, Brynlee; step daughters, Josie Rivera and Jade Wozab; grandchildren, Atlis Rivera Walters and Athena Montgomery; in-laws, Mike Nelson and Kerrie Eivins; brothers-in-law, Ben Morford and Joe Morford; sisters-in-law, Reia Scearcy (Earl), London Nelson and Brittany Corkery andseveral other nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends who were like family to him.
Visitation is Wednesday, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Foust Funeral Home in Eagle Grove. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Evangelical Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Please consider making a donation to raise the much-needed funds to cover Doug's funeral expenses. No donation is too small, and your support is greatly appreciated. Donations can be made at the bottom of Doug's obituary on the www.foustfh.com website.
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