VALJEAN GUSTAFSON
May 13, 1927 - July 6, 2022
Valjean Gustafson and her twin sister, Rojane Nash, were born May 13, 1927 in St. Francis, Kansas. At the time they were simply the Chandler twins and very much a surprise to father Lester Chandler (Pop), but not to their dear mother, Alice Chandler (Campbell), who doted on them after raising three sons.
They lived in Goodland, Kansas for three years and then Pop Chandler decided to take the family of five kids to Alma, Nebraska, and greener pastures.
Momma would tell us that grandma Chandler would wait up for them in their tiny apartment above the Chandler clothing store looking out the window until her twins returned home safe and sound. Always before 10:00 PM and only on weekends.
She and her twin sister attended school in Alma, Nebraska, graduating in 1945. Her one true love caught her attention while they were both in band. She playing the clarinet and Johnny playing his trumpet like a jazz musician. They were both smitten and in love. Deciding they must marry before Johnny got drafted and was sent to Germany, they married August 4, 1945. Two youngsters full of life, expectations, and joy in starting a life together.
Over the course of time they had seven children that they loved unconditionally: Lynn, Lana, John, Jeff, twins, Larry and Jerry, and her miracle baby, Jennifer Jo. During this time, they lived in: Alma, Palco Kansas, Arapahoe, and finally Holdrege. Over the years, besides raising seven children, she was a 4-H leader in Arapahoe, a Cub Scout den mother and finally a Girl Scout leader in Holdrege.
As her children grew up and got married, she became a second mother to her sons-in-law, Gary Henke, Edward Unyi, Troy Vandament, Roy Mitchell and her daughters-in-law, Jane Gustafson, Cheryl Gustafson and Margie Gustafson and Janet Klein, Jerry’s widowed wife. She loved them like her own children and felt blessed that they were part of the Gustafson family.
To help ends meet she would babysit countless children, and over the years, she would become a second mom to many of them. You could often see momma leading a gaggle of kids like a mother goose to the south park for a picnic or downtown for coffee. We all knew the best part of the picnic were her homemade cookies that she was constantly baking and giving out. No carrot or celery sticks were ever served. She had that special touch that made her children and her babysitting children feel loved and special.
She enjoyed and loved her church, church friends and her coffee and card playing buddies as she was always up for a good card game. She especially loved her twenty-one grandkids, that in some respects she helped raise them like her own. She also had thirty-nine greatgrandkids and one great, great granddaughter. She always seemed able to keep track of their names and birthdays, which is amazing indeed. She was famous for sending birthday cards and writing letters on almost a daily basis. I’m sure in another life she would have been a famous author.
She moved on to heaven at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Troy Vandament on July 6, 2022, who took care of her and gave her much joy and love during her final two years. Preceding her to heaven was the love of her life, John Gustafson, in 2018, whom she had been married to for over 70 years. Her son, Jerry in 1985, her granddaughter, Tesa in 2001 and granddaughter, Ginger in 2020. All going to heaven sooner than expected and left an ache in her heart. Son-in-laws Gary Henke and Edward Unyi, her twin sister, Jane Nash, and husband Elmo Nash, her three brothers, Vernon, Dwight and Rex Chandler also preceded her to heaven.
She leaves behind too many memories to count and so much love that it can never be measured, but if she ever touched your life, you are a better person because of it. Celebrate her memory. Be kind to each other. That is what she would want you to do.
Memorial Service for Jean Gustafson will be as follows:
Friday, July 15 @ 11AM United Methodist Church, Holdrege NE Suggested Memorials to Holdrege Senior Center
