Virginia "Glee" Gustafson

Virginia “Glee” (Van Buskirk) Gustafson, 94, of Wayne, NE, formerly of Wakefield, passed away Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at Kinship Pointe Assisted Living in Wayne. The visitation will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield, NE. The funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home. The burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery in Wakefield, NE. Lunch will follow the burial in the Funeral Home Community Room. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderlon-Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield, NE.

Glee was born December 23, 1930, at home on her parents’ farm near Kingsley, IA, to Phyllis (Bierman) and Roy Van Buskirk. The youngest of seven children, she vividly recalled life during the Depression and World War II. She attended country schools near Kingsley and Grand Meadow, graduating from Washta High School in 1949. She went on to Wayne State Teachers College (now Wayne State College), earning a teaching certificate and later teaching at Plum Grove school near Hubbard, NE, and Pierson, IA.

While in Wayne, Glee met Kenneth Gustafson, and they were married December 4, 1955, at her parents’ home. They farmed south of Wakefield, eventually settling on their own farm, where they raised three children—Roger, David and Jane—and farmed together until retiring in 1991 and passing their farm on to the next generation of farmers and moving into Wakefield.

A lifelong gardener, Glee maintained a large vegetable garden and canned, froze, pickled and jellied many items each year. She had a large flower garden, filled with plants blooming from early spring until late fall, many transplanted from the gardens of her mother and relatives. She loved animals, especially cats, raised chickens and ducks, and helped with the farm’s livestock, including milking and selling cream and eggs for many years.

Glee remained a teacher at heart, loving to read and following the lives of her former students, supporting her kid’s 4-H activities, the local library and serving as an election worker. She was interested in family history; often sharing stories and recalling family genealogy and events. Other interests included bowling, extension club, big band and polka music, and relishing all types of Van Buskirk and Gustafson family gatherings.

After retirement, Glee and Kenneth enjoyed spending winter in Truth or Consequences, NM, with a large group of Nebraska friends. She travelled, took up quilting, maintained a yard full of flowers and cherished her cat “D.C.”, who relocated with her to Kinship Pointe in Wayne. In later years, she continued to read, enjoyed dominoes, cards and keeping in touch with family and friends. She became a Husker volleyball fan, loved old westerns and never stopped learning, joining social media and learning to video chat with relatives.

Glee was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth in 2003; her parents; brothers Phil, Vance and Max Van Buskirk; sisters May Ellen Saddler, Loy McDermott and Elizabeth Coady; and her many Gustafson in-laws. She is survived by her children Roger Gustafson of Emerson, NE; David and wife Joleen Gustafson of Wakefield, NE; and Jane Gustafson and husband Dave Stava of Milford, NE; along with grandchildren Garrett Gustafson of Emerson, Caitlin and husband Dustin Smith of Plattsmouth, NE.