Doriene A. Gustafson, 96, of Lincoln, formerly of Scribner, died Thursday, July 17, 2025 at Sumner Place in Lincoln.
Doriene Ann Fusselman Gustafson was born on Dec. 11, 1928, at Genoa to Ira and Edith Hammerlun Fusselman. Her childhood was spent in Boone County where she attended District 84 and District 7 country schools. She was baptized and confirmed at the Zion Lutheran Church in Albion and then a member of Salem Lutheran Church, St. Edward. She graduated from Albion High School in 1946. She then attended UNL for one year, studying home economics education. She worked at the Lutheran Hospital in Columbus for one year.
Doriene married Deane H. Gustafson on September 5, 1948, at Salem Lutheran Church. They lived south of Newman Grove on a farm. She helped organize the Younger Set Extension Club, was a school board member at Dist. 61, active in women’s groups at Salem Lutheran Church, and was busy raising four active children.
In 1965, the family moved to a farm near Scribner where Deane was a farm manager for Hoegemeyer Hybrids. They were members of St. John Ridgeley Lutheran Church, where she was active in LCW and teaching Sunday School. She worked as a nurse’s aide at Birchwood Manor in North Bend, a charge nurse’s aide at the Good Samaritan Center in Scribner, and then a teacher’s aide at Webster Elementary School. Doriene and Deane also enjoyed square dancing.
Doriene and Deane moved into Scribner in 1988 after Deane’s paralyzing accident in 1987. For the next 19 years, Doriene took loving care of Deane. They enjoyed living in Scribner, especially living just one block off Main Street, the grocery store and the Senior Center.
After Deane passed away in 2006, Doriene continued to live in Scribner, busy with Ridgeley Lutheran Church, WELCA, extension clubs, and keeping up with her children and grandchildren. Then in 2015, she moved to Lexington Assisted Living in Lincoln. She enjoyed living closer to family and doing activities in Lincoln. Then in 2022, she moved to Sumner Place Nursing Home, Lincoln.
Survivors include: two daughters, Susie (Jim) Swanson, Lincoln; Joelene (Dave) Carper, Clarinda, Iowa; one son, Del (Cindy) Gustafson, Waukee, Iowa; and brother-in-law, Larry Reynoldson, Eagle. Also nine grandchildren: Sarah (Cody) Lusero, Lincoln; Sadie (Blake) Koster, Kearney; Amy Gustafson (Nate Matson), Minneapolis; Kerry (Tim) Ingold, Sierra Vista, Arizona; Jessica (Adam) Cink, West Des Moines, Iowa; Adam (Lindsay) Carper, Van Meter, Iowa; Katie (Joey) Howard, Bondurant, Iowa; Kirsten (Taylor) Malcom, Urbandale, Iowa; and Dalton (Katy) Gustafson, Des Moines, Iowa. Also, 3 step-grandchildren: Jami (Justin) Holbein, Lincoln; Tracy Schultze, Chandler Arizona; and Natalie (Jason) Meszaros, Phoenix. Also 15 great-grandchildren and eight great step-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, Daniel Gustafson and daughter-in-law, Terri, Phoenix; brothers, Jackie and Jimmy, and sisters, Ramona Bennett, Rogene Andreasen, and Kathleen Reynoldson.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26, 2025 at St. John’s Ridgeley Lutheran Church, southwest of Scribner. Visitation will be one hour before the service at church. Memorials are suggested to the St. John’s Ridgeley Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund.
Ludvigsen’s Scribner Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements. Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com.
