Martha Ann Gustafson, 59, of Milltown, WI passed away peacefully Thursday January 7th at Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN from complications of a brain aneurysm.
Born May 1st, 1961 in Eau Claire, WI., Martha was adopted at 6 months of age by Clifford and Marjorie Gustafson of Centuria, WI. Martha began her longtime career as a grill cook at Wayne’s Café on Hwy. 8 in St. Croix Falls after graduating from Unity High School and enjoyed her 30+ years of service there. She remembered seeing Minnesota Twin’s baseball player Kirby Puckett enter Wayne’s Café to pick up their homemade Apple Pie on numerous occasions. Kirby had a lake home on nearby Deer Lake. Most recently in 2014, Martha began a job at the St. Croix Falls Walmart working in the bakery/deli area. She became a Supervisor after completing training at the Walmart Academy in Hastings, MN this past summer and continued her work as a supervisor there before entering into the hospital.
Martha had a longtime love of horses and she acquired three throughout her time at home with her parents. Peanut, an Appaloosa, Sugar, a Shetland Pony, and finally Apollo, another Appaloosa. She rode them almost daily and cherished being in the outdoors with them. Martha also enjoyed camping with her longtime partner, Frank Greenlee and went to many Nascar races at Michigan Intl. Speedway, and Drag races in Brainerd, MN., or just go for a weekend near home in their 5th wheel camper.
Martha was preceded in death by her adoptive parents, Clifford and Marjorie Gustafson; Uncles Henry Schneewind and Johnny Dittlefson; Aunt Janice Dittlefson and cousin Patti Dittlefson; and Aunt Ruth Lundeen.
She leaves to mourn her longtime partner of 25 years, Frank Greenlee; Aunt Karen Schneewind; uncle Jon Schneewind; brother Steve Gustafson (Penny); children Nicole Ordway; Shelly Ordway (Jesse); Jamie Ordway (Matthew); Christopher Ordway (Andrea); Aaron (Alyssa) Ordway; Nephews Steven Gustafson and Gary Gustafson (Ashley). Grandchildren Jaydon, Ethan, Kiara, and Piper Lasecki; Conner and Emmitt Fisher and many other friends and relatives.
A private family service will be held this Spring due to Covid-19, unless restrictions have been lifted.
You are invited to leave condolences, memories and photos at
www.rowefh.com . Arrangements are entrusted to Rowe Funeral Home, 715-472-2444 and the Northwest Wisconsin Cremation Center in Milltown,
www.wicremationcenter.com .
