Obit: Rusch, Grace (1888 – 1968)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Rusch, Bunten, Claussen, Brooker, Bennett, Zarada, Krause, Fuller

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 03 Oct 1968

Rusch, Grace (5 NOV 1888 – 16 SEP 1968)

Grace Bunten Rusch passed away September 16, 1968 in the St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls.

Grace Bunten was born November 5, 1888 in the Wittenberg Bell Plain area of Wisconsin, the daughter of Florence and James Bunten. She grew up in a logging camp with her mother as her tutor. At sixteen years of age she received her teaching certificate and began teaching at Gresham and Lily.

In about 1913 she moved to Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.) and clerked at the Garrison Mercantile Store.

On July 15, 1916 she was united in Christian marriage to Bernard Rusch.

They ranched in Glendive, Montana for five years, then returned to Thorp, where she has since resided.

To this marriage were born five children.

Surviving are her husband Bernard of Thorp, sons Donald of Withee, Kenneth on the home farm, daughters, Joyce (Mrs. Willard C. Claussen) of Thorp, and Ruth (Mrs. Peter S. Brooker) of Phoenix, Arizona. One son, Allen James, preceded her in death.

She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, other relatives and many friends.

She was a member of the Rebecca Lodge for 54 years, during which time she held various offices. She also enjoyed her association with the Thorp Methodist Church and the W.S.C.S.

Funeral services were held at 3:00 p.m., September 19, 1968, at the Thorp Methodist Church, with Rev. David Fuller officiating, assisted by Rev. Wendell Bennett of Plainfield, Wis., former minister of the Thorp M.E. Church, and longtime friend of the Rusch family. Burial was in the East Thorp Cemetery of Thorp, Wisconsin.

Pallbearers were grandsons, James, Bernard and Donald Rusch of Withee, Kenneth, David Brooker of Torrington, Wyoming, grandsons-in-law, Glen Krause of Milwaukee and Frank Zarada of Chicago.