Posted by Terry Powers on February 9, 2023:

WILLIAM W. GUSTAFSON 1949 Cullum No. 16887-1949 | December 26, 2004 | Died in Pasadena, CA Inurned in Aurora, IL William Walter Gustafson was born in Grand Rapids, MI, the son of Walter Nels and Sigrid Linea Gustafson. An older broth­er, Richard, had died in infancy. Bill lived in Aurora, IL, during his school years, where he distinguished himself as a student, friend, and athlete. As early as the eighth grade, he was considered a "Top Dog," and many young ladies were eager to date him. Indeed, one classmate from Freeman Elementary School characterized him as "smart, friendly, consci­entious, and not very interested in me." Two classmates from West Aurora High School considered him "tall, very handsome, and the best high school athlete we ever knew." Bill was a 1944 All-State halfback at West Aurora High School and excelled in basketball and track as well. Loyalty also was Bill's trademark. He fell in love with Phoebe Flentye, herself an amaz­ing and wonderful woman, whom West Point classmates long remember because she sent him a letter every day during those four years. They married shortly after graduation. It is noteworthy that the Gustafsons kept in close touch with their Aurora friends for over fifty years. Of Bill, one of those friends recently wrote, "The first adjective that always comes to my mind is his integrity. Next, I think of kind, thoughtful, and possessing an enviable equanimity. Writing this makes me miss him all over again." After high school graduation, Bill attend­ed Northwestern University before receiving his appointment to West Point in July 1945. At West Point, Bill exhibited two personas. The casual acquaintance found a very intel­ligent, even studious, cheerful, handsome gentleman without a "mean bone" in his body, yet, he was also a focused, energetic, hardworking, confident football player who enjoyed and excelled at the rough-and-tum­ble game demanded by "Red" Blaik in the mid-1940s. "Gus" earned two varsity letters as backup quarterback playing alongside two Heisman Trophy winners ("Doc" Blanchard and Glenn Davis). Two of Bill's West Point roommates, John "JP" Hawn and Dolph "DD" Overton, echo the sentiments of his high school friends. Indeed, Bill was universally admired and re­spected for his extraordinary abilities and for his unqualified friendliness. He did not haze plebes, and he never complained when things did not go his way. Not surprisingly, Bill was elected class president during First Class year. JP wrote that Bill was the "easiest guy to get along with." Bill was commissioned in the Air Force, along with Hawn and Overton, and all three became lifelong friends. Not surprisingly, JP and DD flew out to Aurora to serve as ush­ers at Bill's wedding to Phoebe. In 1952, all three served in the Korean War, where Bill was awarded the Bronze Star. Bill rose to the rank of captain before resigning in 1953, at which time the friends' careers would diverge, but the friendship would endure. In November 1953, Bill went to work for United States Steel Corporation. He re­mained with the company for 30 years in sales management, following in the footsteps of his father, who had been a vice president for sales with International Harvester. Bill served in several different U.S. cities, in­cluding Detroit, MI; San Marino, CA; and Winnetka, IL. His rise in the company was remarkable, if not meteoric. In 1982, he be­came president of U.S. Steel International at the Pittsburgh, PA, offices and traveled all over the world. Robert L. Bottoms, Regional Manager of Asia, based in Singapore, wrote glowingly of Bill's organizational and mana­gerial skills throughout their many years at U.S. Steel. Ironically, in 1983, U.S. Steel dis­solved its international subsidiary in a major reorganization, but promoted Bill to Vice President for Sales Operations in the Western USA. Bob Bottoms concluded his letter by writing, "Bill was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. He was a kind man, al­ways aware of the feelings and needs of those around him, and most importantly, he was truly a 'gentle man.'" In 1984, Bill retired from U.S. Steel Corp and settled in Pasadena, CA, with his wife, Jane, where he lived out his life. His final challenge was unrelenting and this he fought with courage and grace for almost 12 years but the outcome was inevitable. He died just a few months before his team member, Glenn Davis, from the same illness, prostate cancer. Throughout these years, Bill was very ac­tive in civic and community programs. Bill and Phoebe had three children: Gregory, Tanya, and Bill, Jr. Sadly, Phoebe died in 1971, while they were living in San Marino, CA. In 1973, Bill married Jane Fiedler, who had two daughters of her own. It is quite remarkable that so many of Bill's longtime friends who so admired Phoebe write today of their love and admiration of Jane. JP and DD, as well as high school acquaintances, mentioned the many enjoyable exchanges of visits with the Gustafsons over these 55 years. Daughter Tanya Grimes, mother of three boys, recounted how Bill never lost his love for (and prowess in) football. When Bill, Jr., played football in high school in San Marino, Bill never missed a game. More recently, when Tanya's sons played football in San Marino, Bill always attended games. Indeed, she said, "He would show up with his yellow legal pad and sit away from the cheering section and chart each play. Our boys would love getting Grandpa's critiques of their play and their teams' performance." On 15 Jun 2005, Jane Gustafson and Bill's children and grandchildren hosted a very special interment ceremony and reception in Aurora, IL. JP Hawn and DD Overton were there to represent Company K-2 and USMA '49. Bill "Gus" Gustafson was an outstand­ing member of the United States Corps of Cadets who went on to serve his country honorably. Throughout his life - in the mili­tary, in business, and in his community - he proudly fulfilled the expectations of "Duty, Honor, Country."

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