Shirley A. Gustafson

GALVA – Shirley A. Gustafson, 87, of rural Galva, died at 2:50 p.m., Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

A Private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint John Paul II Parish in Kewanee. Celebrant will be Fr. Christopher Magesa. There will be no visitation. Burial will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Kewanee. Memorials may be directed to a charity of the donor’s choice. Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee is in charge of arrangements.

She was born November 17, 1934 in Arpin, WI, the daughter of William and Anne (VerCruse) Esser Sr. She married John F. Gustafson on January 26, 1957 in Annawan and he preceded her in death on September 24, 2009. Survivors include her children; Julie Bral of Hopedale, Lonnie Gustafson of Galva and Dan (Connie) Gustafson of Hopedale, her brother, William Esser Jr. of Rock Island, a brother-in-law, Charles (Yvonne) Gustafson of Geneva, Switzerland, six grandchildren; Michelle Bral, Kristen (Mike) Bitner, Trina (Josh) Simmons, Trenton Gustafson, Holly (Jeremy) Wilson and Kyle Gustafson and his fiancé, Ashleigh and five great grandchildren; Jackson, Jensyn, Kyleigh, Eleigh and Maggie. She was also preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Ronald and Jerome Esser.

Shirley graduated from Annawan High School and from St. Francis School of Nursing in Kewanee. She worked as a nurse for St. Francis Hospital and then Kewanee Public Hospital until her retirement in 1996. She was a member of Saint John Paul II Parish and the former St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. She enjoyed crocheting, flowers and flower gardening and especially enjoyed her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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