1927 – Wilma Josephine Gustaf – 2017
Wilma Gustaf was born on November 20, 1927 on the family farm near Wagner, South Dakota to William and Josephine Sedlacek Thaler. She grew up near Wagner until 1939 when the family moved to a farm near Florence, MN later moving to a farm near Hadley, MN. Wilma attended country school later receiving her GED. On June 1, 1948 she and Francis Gustaf were married at St. Ann’s Church in Slayton. Following their marriage they made their home in Slayton. Wilma worked at the Slayton Bakery, Mettling Hatchery and at Murray County Central School in the cafeteria. Due to failing health Wilma moved to Our House Hospice Home in Slayton in December 2016 and passed away there on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at the age of 89. She was a member of St. Ann’s Church in Slayton where she served as usher, took care of the altar flowers, was a CCW group leader and served coffee and rolls on Sundays. She was a 50-year member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Wilma enjoyed spending time with her family, sewing, fishing, gardening, cooking, reading, traveling and walking.
Survivors include her husband, Francis Gustaf, Slayton, MN; eight children and their spouses, Judy and Don Carlson, Slayton, MN, Alan And Miriam Gustaf, Bella Vista, AR, Junita and Bob Moulds, Windsor, CO, Christine and Les Roberts of Ft. Collins, CO, Lori and Joel Grunke of Fairfax, MN, Peggy Gustaf, Ft. Collins, CO, Gene Gustaf, Slayton, MN, and Barb and Mike Christensen, Belgrade, MT; 24 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Leona Johnson, Hadley, MN, and Maxine Goin of Templeton, CA, one brother-in-law, Harold Klaphake, New Munich, MN; one sister-in-law, Alice Beattie, Slayton, MN; and several nieces and nephew and their families. She is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Mildred Ella and her husband, Rex and Betty Klaphake; four brothers, Robert Thaler, Bernard ”Tootie” Thaler, Alvin Thaler and his wife, Charlotte, and Jerry Thaler and his wife, Lelyth “Cutz”; two bothers-in-law, Dwight “Gunder” Johnson and Robert Goin.
Funeral Services will held at St. Ann’s Church in Slayton, MN on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Thien Nguyen officiating. The organist is Judy Andrews. The song leader is Sheila Crowley. The pallbearers are Hans Gustaf, Kevin Ahrens, Steven Roberts, Cody Krull, Patrick Moulds, and Mark Grunke. Interment is at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Slayton, MN.
