Last Updated on February 19, 2017 by cassnetwork
Richard (Dick) Lee Rusk, 79, of Logansport passed away unexpectedly following heart surgery on Friday, February 17, 2017 at St. Elizabeth East Hospital, Lafayette, IN.
He was born on February 14, 1938-Valentine’s Day-to Marie (Bridget) and Clarence O. Rusk in Jasper County, IN. On August 20, 1961 he married Mary Ann McKinley in Goodland, IN. Dick attended Roselawn Elementary School and graduated from Mt. Ayre High School in 1956 and enrolled in Purdue University’s Agriculture School Animal Science program the following fall where he earned his B.S. degree. Upon graduation from Purdue in 1960, he worked as a summer intern for the White County Cooperative Extension Service before entering the United States Army in 1960. In 1969 he took a sabbatical leave from his position in Cass County to earn his MS degree in Education from Central Michigan University.
Dick supervised the Youth 4-H program in White County for 2 years and Cass County for 31 years as well as Community Development Coordinator and Cooperative Extension Office Coordinator. He has inspired several Cass County Youth to pursue a career in the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service over the years. He was a member of Epsilon Sigma Phi National Extension Honorary Society. He attended many national youth agent conferences with his Indiana Youth Agent buddies. Dick retired from the Extension Service on December 31, 1998.
Following retirement he spent much of his time with gardening, raising fruit trees, feeding birds and walking his dog. In the fall and winter he could be found in Ross Ade Stadium cheering for the Boilermaker football team followed by seats in Mackey to cheer the basketball team. One of his favorite weekly activities was “Thursday Lunch with the Guys at Bull Shippers!” He was a member of the John Purdue Club, life member of the Purdue Alumni Association.
He had been an active member of Webb Chapel UMC since moving to Logansport, serving in many leadership capacities. He was a faithful member of the Logansport Noon Kiwanis Club, and spent many early holiday mornings and evenings putting up American flags throughout Logansport. Dick was currently serving on the Board of the Four County Counseling Center.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years Mary Ann, two daughters Deborah (Bob) Martin, Allentown, PA, & Michelle (Mike) Evernham, Indianapolis, IN; four grandchildren Victoria (Will) Atkins, Minot, ND; Samuel (Tanya) Martin, Jinhua, China; Michael R. Evernham, Troy, Ohio; and Benjamin Martin, Allentown, PA; one great granddaughter Charlotte Atkins, Minot, ND, and one brother, Jerry (Vera) Rusk, Lebanon, IN plus several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Tressibel (Ellis) Kelley, Harold Rusk and Vivian (William) Mauck.
Visitation will be from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM EST on Tuesday, February 21 in the Gundrum Funeral Home Logansport, IN.
Funeral services will take place at 10:30 AM EST Wednesday, February 22, 2017 in the Gundrum Funeral Home in Logansport, IN with Pastors Bill Bergstrom and Douglas Sanders officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Webb Chapel UMC Building Fund, Cass County 4-H Association, Purdue Alumni Club of Cass County or to a charity of your choice.