Rusley, Steven Thomas (1964-2018)

RUSLEY, BECK, JOHNSON

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/23/2018 at 23:56:48

Steven Thomas Rusley
March 16, 1964 - February 08, 2018

With the passing of Steven Thomas Rusley, 53, of rural Lake Mills, Iowa, on Thursday, February 8, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa in Mason City, heaven gained a kind-hearted man with a shoulder moving, hearty chuckle. Steve was hospitalized with a brain bleed.

Steven Thomas Rusley was born on March 16, 1964, to Stanley and Alvina (Beck) Rusley at Park Hospital, Mason City, Iowa. Having lived all his life on the family farm established in 1869, Steve had been looking forward to the summer of 2019 when he could celebrate receiving the Heritage Farm award at the Iowa State Fair. This honor would recognize his family for having owned their farm for 150 years.

Steve could, still, remember holding onto his dad’s pant legs at a very young age while walking through the cattle yard among the large livestock. In time, he graduated with many life-long friends from Lake Mills High School in the Class of 1982. While in school, he participated in various sports and the FFA where he joined the Mount Valley Ramblers. Moreover, in July of 1981, he was recognized as the Champion of the Individual Market Hog Contest and the Grand Champion of the Pen of Three Contest at the Winnebago County Fair in Thompson. That year, however, to Steve’s chagrin, fair officials began awarding only ribbons instead trophies. Since he, always, felt cheated, his family presented him on his birthday thirty plus years later a trophy inscribed with his winning credentials, hoping to smooth over his hurt feelings.

After completing high school, Steve attended North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC), graduating in 1984 with a degree in Farm Agriculture Management. He started farming full-time raising pigs early on before turning to growing corn and soybeans with his dad, a practice which he continued to follow till the present. Steve liked to see the budding of trees in the spring because it was time for another farm planting and harvest season to begin. Steve valued the special bond he had over the years with the retired farmers who entrusted him with their acres. Loyal to the GMC pickup and John Deere Farm equipment, he felt he should see only Green and Yellow in the fields, except that he did own an International 496 disk. Nevertheless, he, still, owned the first tractor he ever bought, and he insisted that tractor, a John Deere 4440 which he got from his uncle, Kermit, would never leave the farm. Steve and his dad restored their John Deere 4020 for tractor rides. During this time, the One-in-Christ Lutheran Parish established and held a tractor ride for many successful years. Friends and neighbors all thought the idea had originated with Linda, but it, actually, had with Steve. Linda, only, delivered the message.

Baptized and Confirmed at the Winnebago Lutheran Church, now a part of the One-in-Christ Parish, Steve became a lifelong member. He considered himself fortunate to have many friends among the church members. He participated in the Luther League in his youth and served on the Church Council and the Cemetery Board.

At a young age, Steve loved getting together with the neighborhood kids to ride snowmobiles, dirt motorcycles, and three wheelers. Before long, the three wheelers with bubble tires turned into four-wheeler ATVs which he took on many trips with friends in the summer to Wisconsin. In the winter, they would make the same trips on snowmobiles. Steve commented often, “I have the best friends a person could ever have.” He, also, felt that way about the neighborhood and farming community he lived and worked in and around, lending a helping hand when needed. In addition, with family, friends, and neighbors, Steve liked to pull pranks or tell jokes with an accomplished grin and smile.

Steve took pride in introducing and teaching his nephew, Jace, about farming: how to operate his machinery as well as how to ride a snowmobile, a dirt motorcycle, and a four-wheeler. Over the years, he got the biggest “kick” from watching Jace doing all that he had taught him to do, “Nothing Runs better than Jace in a John Deere.”

Steve is survived by his dad, Stanley Rusley; his sister and brother-in law, Linda and Alan Johnson; his nephew, Jace Johnson; his first cousins, who were all older and like siblings who now had to say goodbye to the youngest in a world turned upside down; the second and third cousins he so cherished; and his brother-in-law’s father, Orville Johnson.

Steve was preceded in death by his mom in 2003; both his paternal and maternal grandparents whom he always wished he could have known since they died before he was born; and all his dear aunts and uncles; as well as his brother-in-law’s mom, Sharon Johnson.

Visitation will take place Monday, February 12, 2018, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, Lake Mills, and will continue for one hour before the service at the church. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at the Winnebago Lutheran Church, 44029 210th Avenue, rural Lake Mills, Iowa 50450, with Pastor Bill Peters officiating. Burial will follow in the Winnebago Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Lake Mills, Iowa.

Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, Iowa, 2017.

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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