Marion Rusk

Marion Helen (Norman) Rusk, 93, of Watertown, died peacefully on Friday afternoon, August 8, 2014, at Marquardt Hospice.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 15th at 11am at First Baptist Church in Watertown with Rev. Allan Kranz officiating. Burial will take place following the service at Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends and relatives may call to pay their respects at the Pederson-Nowatka Funeral Home on Thursday from 5pm to 8pm, and at the church Friday from 10am until the time of the service.
Marion was born at home on March 27, 1921, in the town of Concord, Wisconsin, to Frank C. and Clara Ruth (Rabenhorst) Norman. She married Glenn E. Rusk on June 24, 1950, at her parents' home. After graduation from Watertown High School in 1938, Marion worked for a number of years in the office of the Carnation Company in Oconomowoc, WI, and later as a secretary at the former G.B. Lewis Company in Watertown. Her husband, Glenn, worked for the former Johannsen's Greenhouses in Watertown, and after he built his own greenhouse on Boughton Street, Marion joined him in flower growing and arranging, as well as doing the bookkeeping. The Rusk Greenhouse and Flower Shop was sold to Al and Mary Campbell in 1986 and it became The Greenery. Marion was a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church, Watertown, where at various times she sang in the choir, was a pianist, was a member of the King's Daughters ladies society, and in later years was the president of the Ruth Circle. Until a few years ago during the winter she could be seen skiing in the snow around her house.
Surviving is one son, Gene W. Rusk, of Watertown, nieces and nephews: Howard (Joanne) Goetsch, Cotopaxi, CO; Bonnie (Mike) Noonan, Jefferson/Hazelhurst; Jean (Rev. David) Thierfelder, Algoma, WI; Norman (Terry) Schroeder, Carmel, CA; Kathy Miller, Lake Mills; Rev. Ronald (Sandy) Norman, N. Aurora, IL; Nancy (Larry) Evans, Johnston, IA; and Dorothy (Philip) Strom, Beresford, SD; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Helen (Cloyd) Christman, Carl Junction, MO; and Kenneth (Natalie) Rusk, Grand Marais, MN. Also surviving are many great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends and neighbors.
In addition to her parents, Marion was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn in 1988, her son, Jim, in 2000; her siblings and their spouses, Stella (Ernie) Goetsch, Jessie (Harold Schroeder and Jim Grissom), Roger (Erma) Norman, and her twin sister, Elizabeth (Richard) Stange, as well as a brother, Howard, in infancy. She was also predeceased by brothers-in-law and their spouses, Francis Rusk, Clayton (Irene) Rusk, and Blaine (Virginia) Rusk.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Golden Living Center, Zinzendorf Hall, Watertown Hospital, and Marquardt Hospice, as well as Rev. Ray Bezanson, Chaplain, for their very kind and loving care of Marion. A special thank you also to the employees of Culver's, Pick 'n Save, Perkins' Restaurant, and Upper Krust Pie Shop for their genuine caring for Marion in recent years, to Lynn Baker at the National Beauty Shop, and to the Shuler children for their friendliness as they delivered the Watertown Daily Times.
Memorials are suggested to First Baptist Church, Watertown; the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Prison Fellowship Ministries; or Joni & Friends International Disability Center.

Order Flowers