Obit: Rush, Walter J. (1871 - 1961)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Rush, Bauchop, Carpenter, Devos, Skroch, Harcey

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) April 20, 1961

Rush, Walter J. (22 April 1871 - 16 April 1961)

Funeral services were held here Wednesday afternoon for Walter J. Rush, 89, former state senator and trustee of the Clark County Hospital at Owen.

Mr. Rush died Sunday afternoon.  He had been in failing health for several years, and had spent the last three weeks in Memorial Hospital.

Services were conducted by the Rev. Frank B. Harcey from the United Church. Burial was made in the Neillsville City Cemetery.

In recognition of his long public service, the Clark County Board of Supervisors Tuesday passed a resolution of condolence to be sent to his son, Robert, of Tacoma, Wash.

Mr. Rush, son of the late William and Margaret (Bauchop) Rush, was born April 22, 1871, in Racine County.  He attended Racine County schools and the Rochester Seminary, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Valparaiso (Ind.) University.

He was principal of the Waterford School for three years before he entered the University of Wisconsin Law school, graduating from there in 1900.

From 1909 to 1946 he was a practicing attorney in Clark County.  In 1919 he became associated with the late Atty. A. L. Devos and in 1936 both were joined by Everett P. Skroch.

He served as district attorney for Clark County from 1911 to 1918, and as state senator from 1929 to 1942.  In 1937, he was elected president pro-tem of the state senate.

Mr. Rush was active in the Republican party and later helped to organize the Progressive Party in Wisconsin.

He served as trustee of the Clark County Hospital in Owen for many years.  He also was a past director of the Neillsville Bank and the Citizens State Bank of Loyal; a member of the Clark County Bar association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and Loyal Camp, No. 1414, Modern Woodmen of America.  He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Neillsville.

On September 30, 1903, he was married to Inez Carpenter in Loyal.  She preceded him in death on April 28, 1958.

He is survived by his son, Robert; by two granddaughters, Alice and Susan Rush, Tacoma, Wash.; and a sister, Miss Alice Rush of Black River Falls.

The Bergemann Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements.