Paul Moody Gustafson

Paul Moody Gustafson of Wooster, Ohio, died peacefully early Thursday, April 9, at his home in the company of loving family. He was 89. Born Oct. 11, 1919, in DeKalb, Ill., he was the son of John Otto Gustafson and Edith Moody Gustafson.He grew up in Norway, Michigan. After graduation from high school at age 16, he moved to Chicago where he worked while attending North Park College. He earned an associate's degree in 1938 and continued his studies at the University of Minnesota and Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Drafted in 1940, he became a medic. Later he trained as a navigator and flew 22 combat missions with the 34th Bomb Group, 8th Army Air Force out of England. After the war, he returned to Northwestern University where he met his future wife, Mary Jane Tucker. They married in 1946. After finishing his studies at Northwestern, they moved to Grand Forks, N. Dakota, where he began a 43-year career teaching sociology. He taught at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks; Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.; and Hiram College, Hiram, OH. In 1964 he earned his doctorate in sociology from the University of Minnesota. He retired from regular classroom teaching at Hiram College in 1985 and moved to Wooster but continued to teach in Hiram’s Weekend College program until 1993. A true scholar, 'Gus' was deeply committed to teaching and lifelong learning; his students' growth was his primary endeavor. He edited "The Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion" for many years. His career provided extraordinary opportunities to travel and explore foreign cultures. He taught in England, Italy and Malaysia (as a Fullbright Scholar) making lifelong international friends. He was a wonderful father and husband and was able to provide some exceptional life experiences for his family. Paul loved basketball and scored games for Macalester and Hiram Colleges. In Wooster, he became a loyal booster of the Fighting Scots. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wooster. For many years, he was an active volunteer at Wooster Community Hospital. The family is very grateful for the assistance and care from Wayne County Hospice. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane, “Tuck”; daughter Karen Rose of Depoe Bay, OR; sons Eric (Karen) Gustafson of Pleasant Prairie, WI; Bret Gustafson of Kansas City, MO; Mark (Marilyn) Gustafson of Wooster; and brother Jim Gustafson of Albuquerque,NM; sister Dorothy Jones of Topeka, KS; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A celebration of his life will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church House on the College of Wooster Campus on Saturday April 18th at 1:30pm. Following the service there will be a time of fellowship to visit with the family. Custer-Glenn Funeral Home, 2284 Benden Dr., Wooster is handling arrangements. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at: www.custerglenn.com. The family requests memorials be made to Hospice of Wayne County, Central American Medical Outreach (CAMO), or the Paul Gustafson Hiram College Library Fund.

Paul Moody Gustafson

October 11, 1919 - April 9, 2009