Jeannette (Jan) Gustafson, 0774 N. Orr Lake Road, LaPorte, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2004. She was born in LaPorte on December 20, 1921 to Walter J. and Dorothy (Dolan) Backus. She graduated from LaPorte High School in 1940, and later graduated form Gregg Business College in Chicago. Her first job was working at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago.
In the early 1940?s, Jeannette drove her grandfather, Paul J. Dolan, to Long Beach, CA, while pulling his trailer. After a brief return to LaPorte where she worked at the Kingsbury Ordinance Plant, she settled again in southern California, living in Manhattan Beach and working for Air Research in Los Angeles. She returned to LaPorte in 1945.
On October 5, 1946 in LaPorte, Jeannette married Robert B. Gustafson, who survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Marta (James) Smith of LaPorte; and three sons, Gary W. (Dawn) of Minneapolis, Guy W. of LaPorte, and John R. of Chicago. Also surviving are her beloved granddaughter, Heather Glassman, of LaPorte, and beloved grandson, Ryan W. Glassman of Valparaiso; one brother, Walter J. (Chris) Backus of Santa Fe, NM; and seven nieces and nephews, including special niece Megan Backus and special nephew Michael Backus, both of New York. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Sylvia and Dorothy.
Jeannette was a member of The First Church of Christ Scientist, in Boston, MA; and she was a charter member of the Kitchen Kin homemakers club. In 1986, she retired from Bernacchi?s Farm Market in Michigan City, where she worked as secretary. A private family memorial will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice, 901 S. Woodland Avenue, Michigan City, IN 46360.
Arrangements were handled by Cutler Funeral Home.
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In the early 1940?s, Jeannette drove her grandfather, Paul J. Dolan, to Long Beach, CA, while pulling his trailer. After a brief return to LaPorte where she worked at the Kingsbury Ordinance Plant, she settled again in southern California, living in Manhattan Beach and working for Air Research in Los Angeles. She returned to LaPorte in 1945.
On October 5, 1946 in LaPorte, Jeannette married Robert B. Gustafson, who survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Marta (James) Smith of LaPorte; and three sons, Gary W. (Dawn) of Minneapolis, Guy W. of LaPorte, and John R. of Chicago. Also surviving are her beloved granddaughter, Heather Glassman, of LaPorte, and beloved grandson, Ryan W. Glassman of Valparaiso; one brother, Walter J. (Chris) Backus of Santa Fe, NM; and seven nieces and nephews, including special niece Megan Backus and special nephew Michael Backus, both of New York. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Sylvia and Dorothy.
Jeannette was a member of The First Church of Christ Scientist, in Boston, MA; and she was a charter member of the Kitchen Kin homemakers club. In 1986, she retired from Bernacchi?s Farm Market in Michigan City, where she worked as secretary. A private family memorial will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice, 901 S. Woodland Avenue, Michigan City, IN 46360.
Arrangements were handled by Cutler Funeral Home.