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On December 18, 2016, I lost my dad, John W. Gaustad Jr., who was only 71 years old.
My mother, Martha Gaustad, lost her life-long friend, companion and husband of 44 years.
My son, Jared Gaustad, lost his grandpa, his buddy and best friend. My son and I both lost our hero.
It was too soon, unexpected, and unfair.
“Tomorrow is promised to no one.”
I can still hear him, his voice saying that phrase from the time I was small to just a few short weeks ago. I always knew what it meant, but never really understood the full impact and weight of these words until the day we had to say goodbye.
I have no doubts that where ever his journey takes him, his father, John W. Gaustad Sr., was waiting for him, as he has been for the last 16 years, with open arms and a guiding hand. By his side will be my Grandmother, Elaine Gaustad, who left us just four short months before my father felt her love wrap him in a hug to welcome him home.
His sense of humor could make the bluest of people light up with a smile, and laughter replace the melancholy.
His favorite things, the wonderful varieties of the beauty Wisconsin had to offer ,Hunting, Fishing hiking, sunsets, but most of all the people that he knew and counted as his friends, he loved them all.
I know several people will miss him, friends at the River Falls Sportsman’s Club, the Masonic Lodge, his colleagues at 3M, some working alongside him for the 30-plus years he was with the company.
With a heavy heart, I think of the wonderful man, my dad, my hero, and I remember my son Jared, when we were there and he arrived home from work.
Both would have smiles and bright eyes. My dad would drop his briefcase and pick up the little man that ran into his arms yelling Grandpa, then they would sit down and start playing with the carefully placed figures Jared had spent a very long time setting up just right, Spiderman vs Hulk waiting for his grandpa to get home so they could play. Spiderman vs Hulk, two buddies playing, through one set of eyes this man was invincible and the best ever and the other set of eyes.. saw the most perfect person he could imagine and he loved him as much as that statement implies.
I love you Dad , we will miss you forever, until we see you again.
Thank you for joining us at the River Falls Sportsman’s Club in River Falls on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 3pm to celebrate his life and give thanks we were blessed enough to have him in ours.
Oh, one more thing, hug your Dad or Mom or both, because “ Tomorrow is promised to no one” but if you have or had a dad like mine, he will be waiting with arms out, smiling, somewhere over the rainbow.
Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services of River Falls.
3 Comments
Gaustad Family
I was very sad to hear about John. John was a good friend, work colleague and mentor. John and I started at 3M at the same time. I was just out of college and John came over from Ecolab. We worked on the same product line for a number of years. He was a great guy and would always make me smile. He always kept things light and fun. One of his favorite sayings was “your what hurts?” He was a character that will be missed but always remembered.
I am saddened to hear about John. My brother, Allen and I attended high school with John, New Auburn high, and he was a best friend of Allen. They attended different colleges and went their separate ways but kept in contact periodically through the years. Allen died 11 years ago of a rare cancer. My mom, Sunny, played bridge with Elaine weekly. There is a history with your family and mine.
We send our deepest heartfelt sympathy to you and your family for the sad loss of your father, John. There isn’t anything that can take away the deep pain of no longer having someone that we care for deeply but please know that we are saddened by your loss. May God give the needed help and support (Ps.34:18) to your family daily. He will be missed but also very fondly remembered.
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