Brett
Brett S. Gustafson
d. December 23, 2013
Brett S. Gustafson of Harrington Delaware passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 23, 2013, he was 28 years old.
Words cannot summarize a person as amazing as Brett. He was the light of his wife’s life as well as everyone he encountered. If there ever was a farmer, it was Brett. He loved to farm; it was a part of his soul. He conquered every aspect of farming and still never felt like a “farmer”. He worked MANY full times jobs at once; he was an independent poultry grower for Perdue, had a small beef cow operation that started with just one heifer and a dream, he also grew small grain, his own hay and worked full time for Blessing Farms until his diagnosis. After all of that, he still found time to be his wife’s prince charming in wrangler jeans and a John Deere cap, the hero to his two boys, and the best son/brother/grandson/family member a family could ever dream to have. He was ALWAYS willing to help someone, anyone, who needed a helping hand, even if that meant not getting home till the wee hours or working around the clock.
Brett valued and cherished three very important things in his life, his family/friends, farming and being in the outdoors. He always put his family first, to Brett working long hours and providing a life that his wife and boys would be proud to be a part of was just an expectation. He never settled for ok, he strived to be the best he could be and his goal in life was to pass down a farming operation like what he grew up in but just missed continuing. Farming and family always came hand in hand. It was a life style Brett was raised in and wanted so dearly to pass that on to his children. It was a dream that he and his wife strived for and that will be continued because of him. He also valued his amazing family both immediate and not so, but in a family like his, nobody is not “immediate”. He cherished that more than anyone will ever know, even if he was a man of few words. There was never a distinction for Brett between friends and family; if you were worthy enough to be called his friend than you were automatically family. When Brett wasn’t in a field or on a tractor, or working with his friends, Brett was outdoors. He was an avid hunter and games man. He loved to hunt anything he could but aside from the challenge it offered, it was the comradery it brought that meant the most. He would always reminisce about how it was when he grew up and he loved every minute in a deerstand, duck blind, or “sinking boat”.
This amazing person was diagnosed with Melanoma Skin cancer in June 2013. He had no signs and no symptoms. After leaving a vacation to Disney with his family, he noticed a small bump on his collarbone. After several months of nagging, he went to the doctor, had it biopsied and found out it was stage 4 melanoma. We all thought “skin cancer” no big deal. Wrong! After many MRI’s and Pet scans we learned that is was in his brain, spine and several other places in his body. Because of Brett’s diagnosis, his sister, Christy and other family members visited the dermatologist. She had a suspicious mole removed from her ankle that didn’t look suspicious at all. Needless to say she was diagnosed with stage 1 melanoma. Brett’s diagnosis could have very well saved her life. Brett was obviously not a “sunbather”. Until several years ago he had never worn shorts in public. Melanoma is very dangerous and when left undetected can rip a loved one away from you. Brett fought as hard as he could, treatment after treatment, radiation after radiation for 6 months. He never took a break or rested. The melanoma in his brain finally claimed Brett’s life at 28, only 6 months following his diagnosis leaving in its path a family that will never be healed.
As his family, we would like to educate others on the dangers of skin cancer and how quickly and deadly it can be. Words will never be able to express how much Brett meant to those who loved him, but he would always express to us “it is what it is”, and that is the way Brett led his life. Not to pity him or have us worry about him. His only worry was for more research to stop melanoma to save his sister and possibly his children from this awful disease.
Brett is survived by his loving wife, Samantha Gustafson; two beautiful children, Ty Gustafson (age 4) and Luke Gustafson (age 2); and loyal Boston Terrier Rascal. He is also survived by his amazing family, father and stepmom: Steve and Tina Gustafson and Chayton of Harrington; As well as his mother and stepfather, Nanette and Fred Zimmerman of Dover. His wonderful sister and brother in law, Christy and Ben Brown of Denton Md. Brett’s supportive grandparents, Paul and Thelma “sugar pie” Gustafson of Harrington and Sharon and Ray Melvin of Felton and predeceased grandfather, Richard Delong. He was also survived by his paternal great grandparents, Robert and Elizabeth Collins of Harrington and many wonderful Great Aunts/Uncles and Family members.
In lieu of flowers, Brett asked that donations be made in his name to melanoma research at the University of Pennsylvania. Checks can be made payable to “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania” and in memo line you can include melanoma program and Brett’s name. The checks can be mailed to Penn Medicine Development-Abramson Cancer Center Melanoma Program: 3535 Market St. Suite 750 Philadelphia PA, 19104 or go online to www.pennmedicine.org/giving and select Abramson cancer center and gifts can be made to the melanoma program in Brett’s honor.
Brett’s services will be held at Melvin’s Funeral Home in Harrington. The viewing will be held Sunday December 29, 2013 from 5-8 PM and the Funeral service will be held on Monday December 30, 2013 at 1:00 pm. Please feel free to wear casual attire, Brett would approve.
Words cannot summarize a person as amazing as Brett. He was the light of his wife’s life as well as everyone he encountered. If there ever was a farmer, it was Brett. He loved to farm; it was a part of his soul. He conquered every aspect of farming and still never felt like a “farmer”. He worked MANY full times jobs at once; he was an independent poultry grower for Perdue, had a small beef cow operation that started with just one heifer and a dream, he also grew small grain, his own hay and worked full time for Blessing Farms until his diagnosis. After all of that, he still found time to be his wife’s prince charming in wrangler jeans and a John Deere cap, the hero to his two boys, and the best son/brother/grandson/family member a family could ever dream to have. He was ALWAYS willing to help someone, anyone, who needed a helping hand, even if that meant not getting home till the wee hours or working around the clock.
Brett valued and cherished three very important things in his life, his family/friends, farming and being in the outdoors. He always put his family first, to Brett working long hours and providing a life that his wife and boys would be proud to be a part of was just an expectation. He never settled for ok, he strived to be the best he could be and his goal in life was to pass down a farming operation like what he grew up in but just missed continuing. Farming and family always came hand in hand. It was a life style Brett was raised in and wanted so dearly to pass that on to his children. It was a dream that he and his wife strived for and that will be continued because of him. He also valued his amazing family both immediate and not so, but in a family like his, nobody is not “immediate”. He cherished that more than anyone will ever know, even if he was a man of few words. There was never a distinction for Brett between friends and family; if you were worthy enough to be called his friend than you were automatically family. When Brett wasn’t in a field or on a tractor, or working with his friends, Brett was outdoors. He was an avid hunter and games man. He loved to hunt anything he could but aside from the challenge it offered, it was the comradery it brought that meant the most. He would always reminisce about how it was when he grew up and he loved every minute in a deerstand, duck blind, or “sinking boat”.
This amazing person was diagnosed with Melanoma Skin cancer in June 2013. He had no signs and no symptoms. After leaving a vacation to Disney with his family, he noticed a small bump on his collarbone. After several months of nagging, he went to the doctor, had it biopsied and found out it was stage 4 melanoma. We all thought “skin cancer” no big deal. Wrong! After many MRI’s and Pet scans we learned that is was in his brain, spine and several other places in his body. Because of Brett’s diagnosis, his sister, Christy and other family members visited the dermatologist. She had a suspicious mole removed from her ankle that didn’t look suspicious at all. Needless to say she was diagnosed with stage 1 melanoma. Brett’s diagnosis could have very well saved her life. Brett was obviously not a “sunbather”. Until several years ago he had never worn shorts in public. Melanoma is very dangerous and when left undetected can rip a loved one away from you. Brett fought as hard as he could, treatment after treatment, radiation after radiation for 6 months. He never took a break or rested. The melanoma in his brain finally claimed Brett’s life at 28, only 6 months following his diagnosis leaving in its path a family that will never be healed.
As his family, we would like to educate others on the dangers of skin cancer and how quickly and deadly it can be. Words will never be able to express how much Brett meant to those who loved him, but he would always express to us “it is what it is”, and that is the way Brett led his life. Not to pity him or have us worry about him. His only worry was for more research to stop melanoma to save his sister and possibly his children from this awful disease.
Brett is survived by his loving wife, Samantha Gustafson; two beautiful children, Ty Gustafson (age 4) and Luke Gustafson (age 2); and loyal Boston Terrier Rascal. He is also survived by his amazing family, father and stepmom: Steve and Tina Gustafson and Chayton of Harrington; As well as his mother and stepfather, Nanette and Fred Zimmerman of Dover. His wonderful sister and brother in law, Christy and Ben Brown of Denton Md. Brett’s supportive grandparents, Paul and Thelma “sugar pie” Gustafson of Harrington and Sharon and Ray Melvin of Felton and predeceased grandfather, Richard Delong. He was also survived by his paternal great grandparents, Robert and Elizabeth Collins of Harrington and many wonderful Great Aunts/Uncles and Family members.
In lieu of flowers, Brett asked that donations be made in his name to melanoma research at the University of Pennsylvania. Checks can be made payable to “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania” and in memo line you can include melanoma program and Brett’s name. The checks can be mailed to Penn Medicine Development-Abramson Cancer Center Melanoma Program: 3535 Market St. Suite 750 Philadelphia PA, 19104 or go online to www.pennmedicine.org/giving and select Abramson cancer center and gifts can be made to the melanoma program in Brett’s honor.
Brett’s services will be held at Melvin’s Funeral Home in Harrington. The viewing will be held Sunday December 29, 2013 from 5-8 PM and the Funeral service will be held on Monday December 30, 2013 at 1:00 pm. Please feel free to wear casual attire, Brett would approve.
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