DR. ROBERT EVERETT GUSTAFSON, age 91, our beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather, was called home into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on November 16, 2011 in The Woodlands, Texas.

Dr. Gus was born on August 22, 1920 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the son of Josephine and Ernst Victor Gustafson. He graduated from theUniversity of Iowa Medical School in 1945 and joined the Navy as a Lt. JG. He performed a rotating internship at Norfolk Naval Hospital and completed his residency on the pediatric hospital staff at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland. From 1951 - 1956, he entered private practice in Kankakee, Illinois. He then moved his practice to Houston in 1956 and retired in 1992. He loved children and the practice of pediatrics, faithfully serving his patients for more than 47 years. During this time, he was on the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine, and was past President of the Medical Staff at Texas Children's Hospital.

Bob was a devoted family man, marrying his beloved Belle Wakeman in June, 1945. Belle and Bob were married for 61 years and had 5 children; daughter Barbara Jo Laughlin married to Bill, daughter Karin Louise Deming married to Joe, and sons Robert Everett Gustafson married to Beth, David Ernst Gustafson married to Diane, and Daniel Alfred Gustafson married to Carol. He also had 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Bob was an accomplished sportsman and gentleman golfer, even winning the prestigious Silver Putter Award at Champions Golf Club in 1963. Bob spent many years in his Lord's service, teaching Sunday school, ministering to his church's singles group, performing premarital counseling with his wife Belle, and serving as Elder at Bethel Church of Houston.

Our Dad will be remembered by family and friends for his wisdom, care and understanding. When Dad would enter a room, those present would immediately notice his calm manner and gentle nature. He would lift the spirits of all through his singing of nostalgic songs and prayerful hymns. He gave us his unconditional love and leaves a void now in our lives. Thank you, Dad, for being such an amazing father, instructor, doctor, friend, and devoted follower of Christ.