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Michele Rust Obituary
Michele (Mish) had a colorful life; she was a vibrant and spirited woman from a lineage of entrepreneurial women. She attended Bowen High School and Oakton Community College and had a long-tenured career in the commercial flooring industry. In 1990, she founded and operated Michele Rust, Inc. (MRI) contract flooring. Her career highlights include being honored by Ernst & Young as an individual whose ingenuity, hard work, and innovation created a successful and growing business venture.
Michele was recognized as an Unsung Hero for Outstanding Volunteerism. Her life experiences grew into a passion for giving back. Her vision was making magic. She unselfishly donated her time and talent to the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA/Chicago). She served on their Board of Directors and the Executive Committee and co-chaired their national event, Dining by Design. Hands down, no one could sell out an event or gala like Michele! She was also on the Board of Directors for the International Interior Design Association Memory Rock, a fundraiser to benefit the Chicago Alzheimer's Association, and Sandburg Village, which was her home for decades. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone she interacted with as well as those she reached but never met.
Michele is survived by her family Robin Biedermann Elm, Stacy Biedermann O'Brien, Michael Biedermann, Reagan Elm, Mackenzie, Madison, and Murphy O'Brien; Quinten, Grace, Owen, and Dylan Biedermann, and many dear friends. Her mother, Rose, who also had dementia, her father, Ralph Gold, sister and brother-in-law Sheila and David Biedermann, and angels Morgan Darrah and Austin preceded her death.
A Celebration of Michele's Life will be in September.
In place of flowers, please support Michele's passion for giving back by donating to The Dragonfly Project, which offers hope to those grieving. "The fact that we cannot see Michele or communicate with her after the transformation, which we call death, is no proof that she ceases to exist." https://www.dragonflyproject.org
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Michele Rust
Jill O
July 31, 2023
Mich, you were one of a kind and are missed.
xoxo Jill
Susan Powers
June 27, 2023
Dear Mishy,
We lost touch and I found you too late. May you rest in peace. We had so many laughs. You were a strong woman and kind soul! You are fondly remembered.
Susan Powers
Janie Kincheloe McEldowney
June 5, 2022
I still can´t believe you are gone my friend.
Mary McBride
August 22, 2021
We shared the best of times together. Rest easy my friend.
Debby Krebs
August 9, 2021
I was Michele´s Nextdoor neighbor at the James house for years. She was always so full of life, and we enjoyed many years and neighbors and friends. She loved her little dog Daisy Mae so much, and her new dog after I moved away. She was such a generous spirit and I am sad to hear of her passing. Rest In Peace and thanks for making my life better. Xx
Helene Harris Frazin
August 8, 2021
Michele was a wonderful friend at Bowen H.S. I´m sure she´ll be missed by her family and friends.
Celena Byrnes
August 6, 2021
May you rest peacefully in Paradise, Michele.
Mel Davis
August 6, 2021
We spoke infrequently but she always demonstrated a great love of life. Her commitment to her charitable causes was an inspiration to everyone.
Julie Moriarty McCarty
August 6, 2021
So sorry for your loss. Michele was a good friend of the Moriarty family´s. We would spend time with her up at the lake. She will be missed
John Long
August 6, 2021
Michele was one of the most enthusiastic, relational and hardest working people in our commercial interiors industry. She will be missed.
Jill Broersma Olson
August 6, 2021
Dear Mish, you will be missed, MAGIC xoxo
Grazina Macius
August 6, 2021
We had good times.
Rest in peace, Michele.
Betsy Maddox
August 6, 2021
I grew to know Michele when I was a practicing interior designer in Chicago. She was truly one-of-a-kind, full of so much life, humor, and enthusiasm. I'm so sorry to hear of our collective loss. XOXO
Jim Clarke
August 6, 2021
Very sad to hear of Michele's passing. A real friend.
So much passion and energy and she cared. Condolences to her family.
Leslie Levin
August 5, 2021
Rest In Peace......
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