Notes and Links

• m1. Ruth Geist; b. 1919, in Walla Walla WA. She is the daughter of Katherine and Conrad Geist, who were born in the Ukraine. They were German speaking and emigrated from the Ukraine in 1913 with three children born in the Ukraine; Jacob, Daniel, and Mary Katherine. Three additioal children were born in the US: Esther, Ruth, and Eileen. Ruth's grandfather made sacramental wine for the Lutheran community in St. Petersburg, Russia.
• Karl and Ruth had 3 Children:

  • Karl Werner Gustafson, Jr. (b. 1949)
    • m. Wendy Kaufman
    • Karl and Wendy have 2 children:
      • John G. Gustafson (b. 1981)
      • Michelle Gustafson (b. 1985)

  • Eric Gustafson (b. 1950)
    • m. Carolyn Price in 1978
    • Eric and Carolyn have a son:
      • Christopher Gustafson (b. 1987)

  • Karin Gustafson (b. 1959)
    • m. Jon Davidson in 1992
    • Karin and Jon have 2 children:
      • Derek Davidson (b. 1994)
      • Kathrine Davidson (b. 1999)

• m2. Majorie Short (b. 1923), who had been previously married with several children.

Brief Biography:

In 1935, while he was working in Maryland, he joined the U.S. Navy. He married Ruth Geist in 1942 and was then stationed in China as part of the U.S. Navy which was suppling the Nationalist Chinese fighting Communists under Mao Tse-Tung. He received a commendation from Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the Nationalist Chinese who settled in Tiawan in 1949 on the Island of Formosa. Karl retired from the Navy as a Commander in June of 1965, settling in Albuquerque NM.

After retirement from the Navy, Karl worked for the State of NM Archives for two years then began working for Eberline Instrument Corp. as a Field Manager. He worked there until 1977, when he retired. After the death of his wife, Ruth, Karl remarried in 1971/2 to Marjorie Ann Short.

Karl was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to garden, producing gaint squash and tomatoes. He was a Shriner and Mason. He was loved for his sense of humor. He helped establish St. Tim's and Prince of Peace Lutheran Churches, both in the Albuquerque area. Karl died on August 31, 1998 at the age of 86 from Pulmonary Fibrosis.

References:

• Correspondance with Karin (Gustafson) Davidson.
• Genealogy of the family of Johann Caspar Werner (1809-1878) by John Edward Werner.