"Mrs. Rusch and family, My deepest condolences. I never have met you or your late husband. Just wanted to say that my grandparents Anton and Anna Petska were very good friends of your parents Ted and Emma Meinert and I remember meeting them - a very dear couple. Valerie, Florida"
In loving memory of
Jack J Rusch
April 2, 1928 - December 11, 2021
Jack J. Rusch, of Antigo and Post Lake, died Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Primrose Memory Care in Weston. He was 93 years old. He was born on April 2, 1928, in Antigo, a son of the late John and Evelyn (Kuhl) Rusch. He married Ardis Meinert on March 17, 1951, at Peace Lutheran Church in Antigo.
He was a 1946 graduate of Antigo High School. Jack proudly served in the United States Navy from 1946 to 1953. He served aboard the USS Mattaponi post-World War II and was later stationed in Kodiak, Alaska during the Korean War. He was proud to have participated in the Honor Flight in September 2018.
Following his time in the service, he was employed by the United States Postal Service, having a walking route in Antigo and rural route in Deerbrook. Jack and Ardis established and operated Deerbrook Trout Ponds. Following their father's death Jack and his brother, David, founded Rusch Brothers, Inc., operating a sawmill and pulpwood operation, later manufacturing and selling sawmill and logging equipment. In later years, the couple wintered in Eufaula, Alabama and spent summers at Post Lake.
Jack was a lifetime member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Deerbrook and had an extended church family at Edwin Methodist Church in Edwin, Alabama. He was a charter member, first president and honorary life member of the Hyland Lakes Lions Club.
Jack enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He particularly loved earning his pilot license and flying his private plane.
Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Ardis of Antigo; three sons, Greg (Kathy) Rusch of Antigo, Gary (Jeanne) Rusch of DeForest and Tim (Mary) Rusch of Summit Lake; two daughters, Vicki (Bruce) Marshall of Bass Lake and Paula (John Schacher) Spiegl of Antigo; eight grandchildren, Brian (Whitney) Rusch, Jenny Kippley (Don Malotke), Katie (Bob) Spangler, Jack (Nichole) Rusch, Amanda (Nick) Schommer, Ashley (Mike) Van Ooyen, Lacey Perrot (Bert White), Justin Spiegl (Jadyn Walker); 19 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Mae Meinert of Antigo and Mary Rusch of Pickerel.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his parents-in-law, Ted and Emma Meinert; a grandson, Dan Rusch; a sister, Donna (Dwight) Teske; a brother, David Rusch; and a brother-in-law, Mike Meinert.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at 11 a.m. at St. Matthew Lutheran Church with Rev. Paul Radke officiating. Visitation will be Monday, December 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Bradley Funeral Home and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the church.
Antigo veterans will provide military honors outside the church following the service.
Tributes
"Will always remeber great hunting times with Jack and son greg and the rest of the Rusch gang in Ormsby woods. My condolences to Ardis and School friend and cousin Greg and the rest of the family. Kathy Wagner"