Philip Carl Gustafson of Rochester, MA passed away on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at his summer cottage, Lil’ Acre, in Fairhaven after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born on January 27, 1942, in New Bedford, MA he was the beloved son of the late Pauline (Gifford) Jacobson of Wareham and the late Philip Carl Gustafson Sr. of Somerset. He was the brother of the late Susan Jacobson of Wareham. He was the dearly loved husband of Kimberly (Barrett) Gustafson of Rochester.
He was a graduate of Wareham High school, class of 1959 and went on to attend college at Lowell Tech. Phil began his work career as a draftsman at the Acushnet Process Co. before becoming a Union Construction Laborer as a proud member of Laborers’ Local 721 in Brockton, MA before retiring in 2005.
Phil enjoyed spending time with family and friends, music, vintage movies, camping, fishing, cribbage, Christmas nights on County Road, Summers at his cherished summer cottage Lil’ Acre and entertaining many with his fabulous singing and guitar playing. Phil mostly looked forward to putting on Sunday dinners for his entire family during the fall and winter months.
He was a life member of the Improved Order of Redmen, Cromesett Tribe #156 of Wareham and also a Past Great Sachem of The Massachusetts Great Council. He was a member of the Wankinquoah Rod and Gun Club.
Survivors include his wife Kimberly, his son Cullen Gustafson and his wife Laurie of Plymouth, his daughter Delacy Gustafson and her partner John Revil of Bridgewater, his son Scott Gustafson and his wife Stefanie of Plymouth, his twin daughters Tara Bazarewsky and her husband Todd of Plymouth and Audra Schiappa and her husband Emo of Wareham, his daughter Heidi Gustafson of Bourne, his daughter Heather Barrett of Middleboro and his daughter Stephanie Johnson and her husband Billy of Sagamore Beach. Mr. Gustafson had 19 grandchildren who he loved and adored. Mr. Gustafson was very close with many of his cousins, especially Jennifer Rusinoski of Mattapoisett who spent much of her free time sharing old family stories and recipes and was often with him providing comfort during his recent battle.
His funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 9, 2013 from the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham. Interment will follow at Rochester Center Cemetery Dexter Lane Rochester.
Visiting hours will be held from 4 to 8 pm on Thursday August 8, 2013 at Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28), Wareham, Mass.
In Lieu of flowers, Donations may be made to the James Desroches Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 52, South Carver, MA, 02366. Jimmy Desroches was Dad’s best friend and they planned to retire together on the same day from The Laborers’ Union and travel the country in an RV before Jimmy was taken from us too soon. Dad worked to honor his friend by raising money in his name to help working families with the high cost of education.