Obituary: Warren F. Gustafson

Warren Gustafson, of Sister Bay, died peacefully Sunday, May 7, 2017. Warren was born on August 5, 1930 at the Zenith Radio Tower Station in Mount Prospect, IL where his parents Norma (Militzer) & Gilbert Gustafson resided. In 1938 his family moved to River Forest, IL. Warren graduated from Oak Park-River Forest High School in 1950 & he attended Westminster College in Fulton, MO.

Warren’s love for Door County began in 1946 when his family purchased a summer home on the Beach Road. The following summer Warren met Arlene Anderson. They were married at the Sister Bay Moravian Church on August 14, 1954 and lived in Addison, IL. Warren spent 10 years working at Zenith Radio and in 1962 Warren and his family moved to Sister Bay where Warren began his career in real estate & insurance sales.

Warren had a passion for travel and relished planning family vacations with his wife Arlene and daughters Heidi & Pam. On the family road trips Warren insisted on visiting every scenic route and historical spot.   Even in his later years he continued to enjoy exploring the world with family and friends. He was a longtime member of the Sister Bay Lions Club and a member of the Sister Bay Moravian Church.

Warren was preceded in death by his parents Norma & Gilbert Gustafson wife Arlene, brother David, sister in-law Mary Alice Gustafson, brother in-law Robert McCarthy, mother & father-in-law Myrtle and Gilbert Anderson & his special aunt & uncle Des & Duke Taube.  He is survived by daughters Heidi & Pam, Son-in-laws Keith Orsted & Tom Reilly, granddaughters Emily & Hailey Orsted & grandsons Joshua, Chase & Thomas Warren Reilly, sister Gail McCarthy, brother Steve Gustafson, sister-in-law Helen Gustafson, sister-in-law Ardis Fletcher & many nieces and nephews.

The family extends a special thanks to his caregivers Tanya Martinez and Jeannie Stephan, & the kind and compassionate staff at Unity Hospice & Sturgeon Bay Health Services.

A celebration of Warren’s life will be held the first weekend in August at the Gustafson Family Cottage on the Beach Road in Sister Bay.

The family wishes any memorials for Warren be given to the Sister Bay Lions Club-Endowment Fund – P.O. Box 81- Sister Bay, WI. 54234