Nancy Gustavson

Nancy Sue Gustavson, 85, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, died April 11, 2022. A visitation with family will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm, Monday, April 18, at Cozine Life Events Center, 11500 E. 21st St. N. A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at 1:30 pm, Tuesday, April 19, at First Evangelical Free Church, 1825 N. Woodlawn.

Nancy was born on April 9, 1937 in Topeka, Kansas to Delmas "Banty" and Avis Milliken. She was a graduate of Topeka High School and Baker University where she was a member of the Alphi Chi Omega sorority.  After college Nancy was an elementary school teacher in the Kansas City Metropolitan area.  She met Jim Gustavson while they both resided in the Casa Loma Apartments in Kansas City, Missouri.  They married in 1961 and moved to Overland Park, Kansas.  Nancy and Jim moved to Shawnee, Kansas in anticipation of the birth of their son Eric and there Nancy became a fulltime mother and homemaker.  Daughter Inger was born in 1967.  The family moved to Fairway, Kansas in 1974 and in 1975 Jim's work took the family to Wichita, Kansas where she spent the remainder of her life.

Nancy was a devoted and supportive wife to Jim.  She said the best decision she ever made was marrying him.  The couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last summer, a testament to their love for and commitment to each other.  She was also a caring and attentive mother, going out of her way to make sure her children always had what they needed.   Nancy was a very social person and enjoyed many great friendships in her life, maintaining ties with friends going back to college and her days in the KC area.  She was involved in a variety of activities including her Baker University and Alpha Chi alumni organizations, PEO, Scandinavian Society, and numerous others.  A natural born competitor, Nancy enjoyed playing tennis, golf, board games, and was a rabid KU basketball fan.  Last, but not least, she was a committed Christian and sought to bring others to Christ through her kindness, sharing, and involvement as a member of Central Christian Church and then First Evangelical Free Church.

Nancy will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving and giving person, someone who sought to make a difference in the world and clearly did.  Her warm heart and outgoing personality will be missed.