Published on August 28, 2024
John Conrad Gustafson, 87, of Gloucester, passed away on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. He was born on December 13, 1936, in New York City, New York, to Axel Gustafson and Hedvig Gustafson (Lorentson). He was a graduate of Concordia Preparatory School in Bronx, New York. John earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Science in engineering mechanics from George Washington University. He was a licensed professional engineer in Virginia.
John began his career in 1962 at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. During his career at NASA, John worked as a research and project engineer on several major projects including the Apollo 13 rescue, the Viking mission to Mars, Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment I (SAGE I), Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II), National Transonic Facility (NTF), Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System Project (CERES), and several Space Shuttle projects. He was most proud of his work on the SAGE projects and a rainfall mission project that was part of the CERES project. John retired from NASA in 1994 after 32 years of service and remained in the Hampton Roads area, briefly teaching part-time as an instructor in structural engineering at Thomas Nelson Community College.
John enjoyed woodworking and built the workshop of his dreams in his home in Gloucester. He was an avid motorcyclist in his younger years and rode his 1979 BMW R65 motorcycle, which his son Carl still rides to this day. John enjoyed restoring old tractors and his most recent project was a 1929 Farmall Regular. He also enjoyed traveling and spending time in the mountains at his cabin in Monterey, Virginia.
His wife of 42 years, Helen, predeceased him. Left to cherish his memory are his son Carl and daughter-in-law Theresa of Friendswood, Texas; his daughter Carolyn and son-in-law Kevin of Greenacres, Washington; his son John of Pearland, Texas; his grandchildren Jennifer, Tina, Tyler, Travis, Kyle, Dylan, Kandra and Megan; his great-grandchildren Conrad, Elsie, Oakley and Nakai; and his loving companion Louisa Lorentson and her son Lars Lorentson of Gloucester.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 30, 2024, at 3 p.m. at the Hogg Funeral Home, 3098 George Washington Memorial Highway, Hayes, Virginia. A reception for family and friends will follow the funeral service at the family home. Urn interment will be private at a later date at Hillside Cemetery in Wilton, Connecticut.
Memorial donations may be made to the Lone Star Flight Museum, 11551 Aerospace Avenue, Houston, Texas 77034.
Funeral arrangements will be under the direction of Hogg Funeral Home & Crematory.
