June Howell Gustafson

June Howell Gustafson, 98, of Red Wing, Minnesota, died Thursday, June 27, 2024 at Potter Ridge Senior Living in Red Wing. She was born on June 23, 1926 in Wallasey, England to Harry Edward and Amelia (Jones) Howell. June attended school in Wallasey, England and then graduated from a four year general nursing school in Liverpool and one year midwifery school in London. 

June came to the United States in 1950 and shortly thereafter met her husband, Willis Gustafson. The two were married on July 25, 1951 at Christ Episcopal Church. June worked as a staff nurse in Red Wing for 40 years--16 years at the Red Wing City Hospital and then 24 years at St. John’s Hospital as a House Supervisor RN. She also helped start the hospice program in Red Wing and was active in the “I can cope” cancer support group and the Red Wing Area Grief Group. 

June had a deep-seeded faith and walked with God every day. She tried to be a living example of her favorite prayer, The Prayer of St. Francis, "Lord make me an instrument of your peace. .” She was a 74 year member of Christ Episcopal Church and enjoyed singing in the church choir for 20 of those years. She also was active in the Altar Guild, Church Education, was a Choir Board Member, Episcopal Church Women Board Member, and a Vestry Coordinator. She was also a board member of the Minnesota Correctional Volunteer Board and the Red Wing Area Seniors and Faith in Action. In her spare time she volunteered as a foster grandparent for the Minnesota Correctional Facility and as a hospice volunteer. She was also a member of the Mayo Hospital Auxiliary. 

After Willis passed away in 2004, she moved into the Red Wing Village Co-op, where she lived for 20 years, serving on the board and making many new friends and neighbors. Throughout her life, June enjoyed reading, knitting and sewing, cooking and baking and entertaining for family and friends. Her family, both her children and grandchildren, fondly remember the vacations they took with her to Northern Pine Lodge (NPL) in Park Rapids, Minnesota, for many years. June also loved traveling, especially back home to England to see her family, having taken many trips back there, even into her late 80’s. Her family was always most important to her and she loved her daughters and grandchildren and great-grandchildren dearly and was able to celebrate her 98th birthday with many of them, just a few short days before her passing.

June is survived by her daughters, Ann (Brad) LaLonde, Elizabeth (Curt) Herman, Jennifer (Tim) Carlson, Karen (Jeff Hart) Kotval, and Patricia (Joe) Tighe; seven grandchildren, Brett, Scott, Amelia, Melissa, Andrew, Sarah Jane, and Cameron; 13 great-grandchildren, Haddie, Evelyn, Liza, Lylah, Violet, Ezra, Zaiden, Zia, Zimora, Gabe, Micah, Bennett and Addie Jane; her sister, Patricia Kasimor; her brother, Ted (Adrianne) Howell; and her special friend, Truman Stehr.

June was preceded in death by her husband, Willis in 2004; her parents, Harry and Amelia; and her sisters, Stella and Betty.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. on Friday, July 5, 2024 at Christ Episcopal Church with a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to RW Area Food Shelf, Christ Episcopal Church or RW Mayo Hospice Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.