Obit: Rusch, LeRoy (1923 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Rusch, Salassa, Strei, Thunder, Voigt, Wisnewski

----Source: The Helke Funeral Home (Wausau, WI) 1/08/2018

Rusch, LeRoy (11 JUL 1923 - 5 JAN 2018)

LeRoy Rusch, 94, went to meet his Lord on Friday, January 5th, 2018 at Wausau Manor. He was born in the Town of Stettin on July 11, 1923, to Norman and Loma (Strei) Rusch. He graduated from Marathon High School and the former Wausau Business Institute.

On September 10, 1947, he married Lorraine Voigt at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in the Town of Hamburg. This past September it was a blessing when the family gathered to celebrate their 70 wonderful years of marriage.

LeRoy worked in the family milk trucking business for 48 years and was very appreciative for the loyal dairy farm families throughout those years. In April 1949, LeRoy was elected Clerk of the Town of Stettin, a position he held for 51 years. He also served as secretary of the Stettin Sanitary District for 35 years.

LeRoy is survived by his wife, Lorraine, and their five children, David (Laura), Culver City, CA; LeAnn Salassa, Wausau; Daniel (Nancy), Minneapolis, MN; Nolan (Karen), Wausau; Amy (David) Thunder, Wausau; their 17 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; a brother, Gary (Joan) Rusch, Plymouth, MN; and a sister, Jean Wisnewski, Edgar, WI.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Cyrus and Thomas, and an infant sister, Bonnie.

LeRoy was blessed with a large and loving family. He was kind and soft-spoken. With patience and humility he helped raise his five children. In retirement, LeRoy especially loved family gatherings that included his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his time spent out at the Thunder farm, and watching his favorite sporting events on television.

The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Aspirus Wausau Hospital, GI Associates and Wausau Manor for the loving care given to Dad these last weeks.

LeRoy will be dearly missed by his loved ones who celebrate the fact that he is now in the presence of Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior. We thank God for the love and faithfulness Dad showed to his family and friends throughout his lifetime.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 11, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Helke Funeral Home, 302 Spruce St,, Wausau. The funeral service will be at 11:00 am, Friday, January 12, 2018, at Christ Lutheran Church, 1300 Townline Rd., Wausau, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Entombment will be in Restlawn Memorial Park.

You may sign our family guest book at www.helke.com. 

Memorial gifts received will be given to “SIM USA” in support of grandson Zachary Thunder and his wife Aliya, missionaries to Niger, West Africa.