Rusley, Kermit Richard (1919-2013)

RUSLEY, KVASLERUD, PERRY, PAUK, KRONCKE, FLUGUM, CHASE, BANNON, WOLFE

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 4/3/2013 at 18:52:12

Kermit Richard Rusley
(April 13, 1919 - March 21, 2013)

Kermit R. Rusley, age 93, of rural Leland, died on Thursday, March 21, 2013, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa.

Kermit Richard Rusley was born on April 13, 1919, in Grenora, Williams County, North Dakota, to Tom J. and Tilda (Kvaslerud) Rusley. He was baptized in North Dakota prior to his family’s moving to Iowa in 1920. Confirmed at the Winnebago Lutheran Church in 1933, he graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1937.

On June 28, 1950, Kermit married Thelma Perry at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, Iowa. The couple, subsequently, had two children and made their home on their present farm all their lives. Never really retiring, Kermit farmed the family farm until his death.

Kermit and Thelma enjoyed many trips in their retirement years, seeing most of the United States, traveling to Norway and Denmark, and spending many winters in the McAllen, Texas, area. Kermit filled his free time with playing cards, golfing and fishing at Rice Lake, and woodworking. No one appreciated polka music more than he. Both he and Thelma had a love for dancing all throughout their marriage. Kermit also had a passion for restoring tractors, and he was never known to pass up a cup of coffee and conversation with family and friends.

Over the years, Kermit served on the board of directors for a number of area organizations including the Leland Co-op Elevator, Cooperative Services, and the Winnebago Mutual Insurance Association. Active at the Winnebago Lutheran Church, he also held many offices there over the years including two terms as president of the congregation.

A kind, gentle, fun-loving, and hard-working man, Kermit, foremost, loved God, his family and friends, and the land he was blessed to work for so many years.

Survivors include his two children, David (Rita) Rusley, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Diane (Daniel Hall) Pauk, of Cross Plains, Wisconsin; four grandchildren, Michelle (Brett) Kroncke, of Nashville, Tennessee, Danielle and Stephanie Pauk, both of Chicago, Illinois, and Rachael Rusley, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; three great grandchildren, Jack and Lydia Rusley and Ingrid Kroncke; his brother, Stanley Rusley, of Leland, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Lila Perry, of Scottsdale, Arizona; and his long-time friend, Helene Iverson, of Lake Mills, Iowa; as well as many special nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Kermit was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Thelma; and six siblings, Agnes Flugum, Senora Rusley, Helen Chase, Joseph Rusley, Thelma Bannon, and Lydia Wolfe.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, March 25, 2013, at the Winnebago Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, with Pastor Bill Peters officiating. Burial will take place in Winnebago Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 24, 2013, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Memorials may be directed to the Winnebago Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund or to Hospice of North Iowa.

Copyright © 2013, Mittelstadt Funeral Home

Mittelstadt Funeral Home
 

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