Stanley Charles Gustafson passed away at his home in Sandstone, MN on Thursday, September 28, 2023.  He was 80 years old.

Stanley was born on September 22, 1943 and grew up on a farm just outside of Sandstone, MN.  He was the 13th child of 14 born to Walter and Amy (Magnuson) Gustafson.  He graduated from Sandstone High School in 1961.  He and Judith Schake were married on November 5, 1965. Together, they brought four children into this world:  Kari, Denise, Ranae, and Shaun.  Stan had worked as a manager of a lumber company until he and two of his brothers bought a lumber company of their own (Gustafson Lumber, Hinckley, MN).  After he and Judy raised their children, they spent many of their retired years living much of the time in Arizona.  Stan was widowed on January 27, 2006.  He fell in love again, and his son, Shaun, married him and Joanne Heggen on May 7, 2020.  He and Jo lived in an apartment in Sandstone, MN, spending the winters in a southern climate.

Stan was a loving man – he was best friends with Jesus and a friend to everyone he met.  He had a special gift where he was able to meet someone, and it would not take long for him/her to open up to Stan, sharing their life story.  When asked how he did that, he would say, "I really care about them.  I care to know."  Stan loved to have fun.  He loved teasing and being teased.  He enjoyed playing practical jokes on his siblings and children alike.  He enjoyed making people laugh despite whatever he may have been going through.  He and Jo loved playing card games and always found others to join them wherever they lived.

Stan has left behind his spouse, Joanne, his children, Kari (Steve) Obey, Denise (Aaron) Apitz, Ranae (Justin) Edwards, Shaun (Amy Cooper) Gustafson; his bonus children, Lee Heggen (fiancé Amy Smith) and Shari Heggen-Peter; his grandchildren, Amanda Obey (Rogelio Ramon Jr), Isaiah Obey, Matthew Obey, Kristina (Jeffery) Wiebold, Micah Newman, Miranda Newman, Alexandra Ferson, Mickenna Ferson, Courtney Gustafson, Whitney Gustafson, and Caleb Gustafson; his bonus grandchildren, Megan Peter, Evie Peter, Stella Heggen, Darick (Tiffany Gordon) Apitz, Gregory (Ariel Anderson) Apitz, and Toby Edwards; his great grandchildren, Spencer Wiebold, Desiree Newman, and Judah Charles Edwards; his bonus great grandchildren, Bentley Apitz, Asher Apitz, and Ayla Apitz; his siblings Wayne Gustafson, Willard (Nancy) Gustafson, Louise (LeRoy) Nystrom and Karen (Larry) Helwig, brother-in-law Clifford Anderson, his sister-in-law, Helen (Lawrence) Gustafson, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Some of those who preceded Stan were his first wife, Judy (he often called her Jude), his parents, Walter and Amy (Magnuson) Gustafson; brothers, Lawrence, Albert, Billy (Dorothy), Harold (Ann); sisters, Dorothy (Melvin) Rostberg, Ruth (Alvin) Lind, Agnes (Donald) Youngdahl, Elaine (Russell) Williams, and June Anderson; sisters-in-law, Lenore (Westin) Gustafson and Millie (Koski) Gustafson.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held on Friday, October 6th at 11:00 a.m. at Dell Grove Emmanual Lutheran Church, 16726 Grindstone Lake Road, Sandstone, MN  55072.  Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  Pastor Chris Cundiff and Pastor Shaun Gustafson will be officiating the service.

Following the service, Stanley's ashes will be laid to rest at the Gustafson plot at Dell Grove Emmanual Lutheran Church cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made to High Point Church Outreach ministries at 4545 N. Frontage Rd Hwy 14 W, Rochester, MN 55901 or Sandstone Evangelical Free Church Missions, at 522 Main St N, Sandstone, MN 55072

Arrangements by Methven Funeral and Cremation Services of Sandstone, MN.