Kristin L. Gustafson

Gustafson, Kristin L., age 62, of Seattle, WA, and formerly of Minneapolis, MN, passed away on July 8, 2026, after more than five years living with advanced-stage endometrial cancer. She was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her father, Carl Gustafson. She is survived by her wife of 38 years, Jean Miller; their child, Davis Louise-Marie Gustafson; mother, Mary Gustafson; brother, Craig (Jan) Gustafson:, Bloomington; sister, Karen (Jeff) Bajek, Minneapolis; five nieces and nephews, Sarah (Jeremy) Peterson (children Emma, Sophie, Macie), Erik (Gretchen) Gustafson (children Sophie, Finn), Paul Gustafson, Isabel Bajek, and Jack Bajek; uncle, Ray (Mary) Gustafson; and Jean's brother Ed and sister-in-law Celia Muench; niece and nephew Catherine (Kevin) Hurley (children Claire and James) and Michael Wright.

In 2011, Kristin and Jean expanded their family and welcomed the birth of their daughter Davis. Together they forged a life through love, community, dance, travel, adventure, and exploration.

Kristin lived her life fully committed to educating herself and others. She attended St. Olaf College, graduating in 1985 with a degree in English and Women's Studies. She later chose a new path in journalism, earning an additional undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota. As a Star Tribune intern, she covered politics in Washington, D.C. Her first full-time newspaper reporting job was with the St. Cloud Times, where she co-wrote the breaking news story of local clergy sexual abuse. Her deepening interest in how journalism shapes our understanding of history and justice led her to a master's degree at what is now the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota. In 2005, Kristin moved to Seattle to pursue her doctorate, and she finished her career as Teaching Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at the University of Washington Bothell--the highest rank in her faculty category.

A Seattle celebration of life service and reception will be held Saturday, August 22, at 2 p.m., Plymouth Church, 1217 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.

A Minneapolis celebration of life service will be held Friday, August 28, time TBD, Judson Memorial Baptist Church, 4101 Harriet Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409

Memorials can be sent to Fred Hutch Cancer Center fundraising page link.