Robert E. Gustafson

Robert “Bob” Gustafson, 81, passed away Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005. He was born July 22, 1924, in Escanaba, Mich., son of the late Harry and Edith Gustafson.
Bob served in the U.S. Army with pride, honor, and courage in World War II in the European Theater, earning the German Occupation Medal, the EAME Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, the Distinguished Unit Badge, the victory Medal World War II and the Croix de Guerre for valor in the French liberation. He served as a combat infantryman in the 100th division and fought in battles including the Battle of the Bulge and landed on landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France. Following the war, Bob attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he earned a degree in forestry in 1950, and where he met his wife of 55 years, Harriet. Bob worked as an industrial forester, land surveyor and forestry consultant. Bob loved the outdoors and sports especially baseball and football. He loved country music and enjoyed fishing and company with good friends.
He will be remembered for his honesty and integrity in his work by his family, wife Harriet of Rocky Mount, N.C., and daughter Janet Gustafson of Raleigh, N.C., as a devoted, loving husband and father, and will be missed. Bob was preceded in death by a son, Craig Stratton Gustafson.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005, at Rocky Mount Memorial Park. Arrangements are entrusted to Bowling Funeral Home and Crematory, 661 English Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.