Obituary of Eleanor A. Gustafson

Eleanor Aurellia (Clark) (Cichocki - Lindstrom) Gustafson Eleanor Aurellia Clark was born at the McPherson County Hospital on August 6, 1924 to Carl Emmanuel Clark and Esther Elizabeth (Aurell) Clark. She was reared in Delmore Township 5-18-2 at New Gottland in McPherson County Kansas. She attended North Union Grade School District 78 throughout all of her eight grades. She studied at Galva High School for four years and graduated in 1942. Eleanor began work at Southwestern Bell Telephone August 6, 1942 in McPherson, Kansas when she reached the employable age of 18. She was one of a cadre of telephone operators who assisted with toll calls in Salina, Kansas during the deployment process for the United States Army Military Divisions (94th, 79th, 80th, 44th). These units had been stationed at Camp Philips. Eleanor rode the bus from McPherson to stay three to four weeks in Salina and assist with the toll calls during each of the deployments. Camp Philips was a “finishing school” for troops being readied for the Normandy invasion. The camp was located near Smolan, Kansas. The 94th Division left for Mississippi to resize before the European theatre. The 79th and 80th Divisions deployed for Normandy. The 44th deployed to the European theatre. Eleanor took leave from the telephone company to enlist in the United States Marine Corp-Women’s Reserve (USMC-WR). Her agreed term of duty was six months or the duration of the war, whichever came first. She left Kansas for training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina in December of 1944. The war ended on August 6, 1945 and she was officially discharged in December of 1945. She was one of 18,000 women trained for duty. As a woman in the Armed Service she was stationed in Washington, DC. She served as a military police woman (M.P.) and walked guard at the Henderson Compound Hall, an all women compound of five barracks located across from the Navy Annex in Arlington, Virginia. She participated in shifts of 24 hours on-duty and 48 hours off. The recruited women relieved the men who were being reorganized into the 6th Marine Division that was slated for Japan. Eleanor married Edward John Cichocki on July 31, 1945. She returned to work at Southwestern Bell Telephone as an operator in Rockford, Illinois after her military discharge. Eleanor and “Chic” later moved to McPherson, Kansas where she was one of the first “meter maids” as a policewoman. They were divorced in 1952. She married James Arthur Gustafson in 1960 and lived most of those married years in Smolan, Kansas. Always an active participant in local matters, she served on the Smolan City Council and as acting Police Judge for the city of Smolan. She is a member of the New Gottland Evangelical Covenant Church, the Marine Corp League Tri-River Detachment, and The American Legion Post 140. Past memberships include: Saline County and McPherson County Historical Societies, and Kansas Flywheel Association. Past contributor, volunteer and memberships include: Saline County and McPherson County Historical Societies, Kansas Flywheel Association, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Scandinavian Heritage Foundation. Eleanor enjoyed the years she and James volunteered as SAGs for Biking Across Kansas (BAK) trips. BAK is an annual recreational and social rally for cyclists. SAGs provide assistance and support along the routes to the cyclists. Her many other interests include family, gardening, history, nursing care, seeking collectibles through local auctions, music and reading. During her life, she devoted much of her time and energy visiting shut-in’s and as a caregiver to friends and family members, including her father-in-law until he passed away. In the last year as her health declined, she became the receiver of caregiving, during this time she formed some very special bonds with nurses and aides at the The Cedars Nursing Home in McPherson, Kansas. Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents and, brothers, William Anton (Lois Coltrane) and Dan Oscar; and sisters, Mrs. Ralph A (Doris Elizabeth) Bruce, Mrs. Wilbur K (Selma Elaine) Banman, Mrs. Curtis L (Rachel Ann) Walline, and Mrs. Thomas M (Joy Carlene) Kilbride; her infant daughter Ruth Ann Cichocki; her son-in-law, Bruce Anthony Zamrzla and grandson, Brett Anthony Zamrzla. She is survived by her husband, James Arthur; daughters, Jeanette Marie Zamrzla and Rhonda Mae (Dan) (Toal) Holub; grandchildren, Erin Laine Zamrzla (Ben Schlitter) , Richard James Thomas Toal and Heather Kathleen Marie Toal; and great grandchildren, Esther Antonia Schlitter and Ezra Joseph Schlitter; brother, Dick Ellis (Mary Jo Snider) Clark and, sister, Mrs. Victor W (Fay Charlene) Lindholm and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 4, from 4-7pm with family present from 5-7pm at Christians Funeral Home, Lindsborg. Burial will be held Thursday, May 5, at 10:00am at WaKeeny Veteran's Cemetery, WaKeeny, KS. A Memorial Service will follow Thursday, May 5, at 2:00pm at the New Gottland Covenant Church, New Gottland, KS. Memorials may be designated for American Legion Post #140, Lindsborg, or the New Gottland Covenant Church in care of Christians Funeral Home 103 N. Washington St. PO Box 386 Lindsborg, KS 67456. Online condolences at www.ChristiansFuneralHome.com