1932
Ronald
2012
Ronald Horton Gustafson
July 25, 1932 — April 15, 2012
Ronald Horton Gustafson, 79, died peacefully on April 15, 2012, at his home in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Diana, by his side. The son of Edward and Irene (Horton) Gustafson, Ron was born in Portland on July 25, 1932. After graduating from Grant High School, Ron spent two years in the Navy as a submariner aboard the USS Tang and then went back to school and graduated from the University of Washington in 1958 with a business degree. He then moved back to Portland and married his loving and devoted wife of 48 years, Diana (Johnson), on June 9, 1963.
Ron found his calling in the restaurant business. He purchased Bergeson's Coffee Shop in 1962 and then, in 1967, bought Biff's Seafood Restaurant which he owned and operated for 22 years. Ron was a chef (he was a member of Chef's de Cuisine Society of Oregon) but what he really enjoyed was being out front with the customers and taking care of the restaurant and his employees. Biff's was a great success. Tellingly, many employees worked at Biff's for 10, 15 and 20+ years and, 40 years later, were still good friends with Ron.
After selling Biffs, Ron volunteered for 10 years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to assist children in Oregon's juvenile court system. He also travelled extensively with Diana to Europe, Asia and the Panama Canal as well as driving their motorhome (with their motorhome club) to nearly all 50 states (including Alaska) and Canada. Although … his favorite trip was driving a small campervan through northern Europe for 6 weeks in 1980 with his wife and his 15, 14 and 12 year old sons – it definitely was an "adventure." Dad really loved his family. Closer to home, Ron loved to play tennis, exercise and spend time clam digging and relaxing at his beach house in Ocean Park, WA. He had a great sense of humor and was a very kind, gentle and caring person. Everyone who met dad liked or loved him - he was a friend to all.
Ron is survived by his wife of 48 years, Diana Gustafson; his older brother and best friend, Jim Gustafson; his sons and daughters-in-law (who were the daughters he never had), Ron (Jr.) and Diana, Dan and Angela, and Brad Gustafson; and his lovely grand daughters Bailey (19), Sarah (13), Sophia (10) and Olivia (7) Gustafson.
Services will be held Monday, April 30th, 2012, at 11:00 AM at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 4800 NE 72nd St., Portland, OR, 97218 (between NE Prescott and Killingsworth).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Snowcap food/clothing bank at www.snowcap.org or Northeast Emergency Foodbank at www.emoregon.org/NE_food_program.php.
Ron found his calling in the restaurant business. He purchased Bergeson's Coffee Shop in 1962 and then, in 1967, bought Biff's Seafood Restaurant which he owned and operated for 22 years. Ron was a chef (he was a member of Chef's de Cuisine Society of Oregon) but what he really enjoyed was being out front with the customers and taking care of the restaurant and his employees. Biff's was a great success. Tellingly, many employees worked at Biff's for 10, 15 and 20+ years and, 40 years later, were still good friends with Ron.
After selling Biffs, Ron volunteered for 10 years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to assist children in Oregon's juvenile court system. He also travelled extensively with Diana to Europe, Asia and the Panama Canal as well as driving their motorhome (with their motorhome club) to nearly all 50 states (including Alaska) and Canada. Although … his favorite trip was driving a small campervan through northern Europe for 6 weeks in 1980 with his wife and his 15, 14 and 12 year old sons – it definitely was an "adventure." Dad really loved his family. Closer to home, Ron loved to play tennis, exercise and spend time clam digging and relaxing at his beach house in Ocean Park, WA. He had a great sense of humor and was a very kind, gentle and caring person. Everyone who met dad liked or loved him - he was a friend to all.
Ron is survived by his wife of 48 years, Diana Gustafson; his older brother and best friend, Jim Gustafson; his sons and daughters-in-law (who were the daughters he never had), Ron (Jr.) and Diana, Dan and Angela, and Brad Gustafson; and his lovely grand daughters Bailey (19), Sarah (13), Sophia (10) and Olivia (7) Gustafson.
Services will be held Monday, April 30th, 2012, at 11:00 AM at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 4800 NE 72nd St., Portland, OR, 97218 (between NE Prescott and Killingsworth).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Snowcap food/clothing bank at www.snowcap.org or Northeast Emergency Foodbank at www.emoregon.org/NE_food_program.php.
Visitation
There will be no visitation
Portland
,
OR
US
Service
Luther Memorial Lutheran Church
4800 NE 72nd Avenue
Portland
,
OR
US
Monday, April 30, 2012, 11:00 AM
Cemetery
Private
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