Jaret & Diane Gustafson

JARET GUSTAFSON

3/8/1932-2/26/2009

DIANE GUSTAFSON

11/28/1937-2/27/2009

Jaret Emanuel Gustafson passed away Thursday, February 26, 2009, doing what he loved most, spending time with his children and grandchildren. Dad could not be without his sweetheart, so he came back to get his wife, Diane.

Diane Inga Birkeland Gustafson passed away Friday morning, February 27, 2009.

Dad was born on March 8, 1932 in Salt Lake City, Utah to George Carl and Pearl Augusta Gustafson. He spent part of his childhood in Lyman, Wyoming, and then moved back to Salt Lake City. Dad attended Granite High School, leaving before graduation to join the Navy. He served during the Korean War on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Essex.

Diane Birkeland Gustafson was born November 28, 1937 in Salt Lake City to Leif and Dora Engh Birkeland. She graduated from Olympus High School in 1956. Mom grew up helping her dad run the family cafAC. and catering business. She played the piano and had a beautiful singing voice. She sang with the Utah Oratorio Society for many years. Mom loved sewing and crafts. She always had some project she was working on, but what she enjoyed most was supporting and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was their biggest cheerleader. Mom later enjoyed working at the University of Utah for ten years.

Dad literally married the girl next door, Diane Birkeland, on September 28, 1956 in the Salt Lake Temple. Dad worked for U.T.O.C.O., American Oil, was self-employed and retired from Sinclair Oil in 2000. With Dad's work, Dad and Mom moved from Salt Lake to Pocatello, Idaho Falls and then Montpelier, Idaho. Eventually they settled back in East Mill Creek. They raised four children of whom they were extremely proud. Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling and having junk food parties. Mom never needed a reason to have a party. Mom and Dad both had strong testimonies of the gospel, and they both served in many capacities in the church.

Anxiously waiting to be reunited with their parents are their children, Dan (Judy), Eric, Karina, Gary (Susan); thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They were joined in death by Eric's wife, LuAnne.

Jaret is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Charlotte Wankier; and brother, Dean Gustafson. Survived by his sister, Ramona (Tom) Carroll; brother, L.G. (Carol) Gustafson; brother-in-law, Frances Wankier; and sister-in-law, Kathy Rasmussen.

Diane is preceded in death by her parents. Survived by her three brothers, Grant, Clifford (Lynne), Steven (Kristin); and two sisters, Maurine (Keith) Newbold and Annette (Jim) Livsey. Both are survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Joint funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2009, 12:00 noon at the East Mill Creek 2nd Ward, 3750 South Hillside Lane (2500 E.) Family and friends may visit on Wednesday evening, March 4, 2009 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, and also at the church Thursday morning from 10:00am to 11:30am prior to the services. Interment: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. Online condolences may be sent to the family at: www.holbrookmortuary.com.