Gwendolyn Naomi Gustafson

Gwendolyn Naomi Gustafson, 98, passed away peacefully with loved ones by her side at 1:00PM on April 6, 2026 at the Charleston Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, Charleston, IL.

Funeral mass will be 10:00 AM on Sat, April 11, 2026 at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Philo.  Rev. Keith Walder will officiate.  Burial will be at Locust Grove Cemetery, Philo.  The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff and nurses at the Charleston Rehabilitation and Health Care Center for their care and compassion.

Born in Earlville, IL, to Lawrence and Ruth Gast on January 13, 1928.  Gwen attended Boozel Country School and Earlville High School.  Upon graduating high school in 1945, she worked as a secretary at the Chicago Train Station.  In April of 1948, she married the love of her life, William (Bill) Moore of Paw Paw, IL at St. James Catholic Church in Lee, IL.  The couple resided on a family farm in the countryside of Paw Paw, where they raised their three children; Richard, Pamela, and Edward.  After the death of her husband, Gwen and her children moved to Villa Grove.   In 1965, she married Richard (Dick) Gustafson.  She worked as a secretary at Parkland College from 1967 to 1972 and later at Barr Real Estate from 1972 to 2008.  Gwen was as avid golfer and loved golfing with her family and friends at the Tri-City County Club in Villa Grove.  She also enjoyed playing bridge with her friends, bowling, birdwatching, reading novels, solving puzzles, and spending Sunday afternoons with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  In later years, she always looked forward to her long drives through the countryside looking for all types of wildlife and taking in the warmth of the sun.

Gwen was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; sister, Shirley; and brother, Ralph.  She is survived by her children: Richard (Dane), Pamela (Steve) Leon, and Edward (Joe).  Her grandchildren: Heather (John) Hayes, Jaime (Timothy) Hogan, Stephanie (Thomas) Sellers, Katie (Ryan) Beil, and Sally (Lenor) Samuel.  He great-grandchildren: Reese, Riley, Matthew, Lucas, Emma, Daniel, Elijah, Shiloh, Ryder, and Oliver.

All of those who knew Gwen will remember her for her strength, benevolence, compassion, humor, wit, and unwavering love for her family members.  She was a light to her family and will be deeply missed by her loved ones.

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