Edward A. Rust

Edward A. Rust (Ed) was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather of Rothschild, WI. He went to his heavenly home peacefully on July 11, 2024, at the age of 91, surrounded by his loving family.

Ed was born on January 12,1933 in Adrian, MN on his family’s farm. He graduated from Magnolia High School in Magnolia, MN in 1951, where he earned a football letter for playing both offense and defense; never leaving the field during games due to the school’s small size. He then helped on the family farm until he was drafted into the Army in 1953. He served in the Korean War, stationed in both Korea and Guam. In addition to infantry duties, Ed also worked as a carpenter at an Air Force base, constructing and maintaining air towers and runway strips. After returning from military service, Ed met Elaine, his wife of 66 years, at a roller-skating rink. They married on September 18, 1957, and started their family in Rock Rapids, Iowa in a home they designed and built together by hand. In the years that followed, Ed held various jobs, including maintaining silos for Lyon County, farming soybeans and corn, raising hogs, and holding home Tupperware parties. After years of diligent Tupperware sales, Ed and his wife earned a promotion to distributors. They launched Lakeland Sales, their business serving central and northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Over their 36-year career, Ed and Elaine worked closely together, achieving recognition as one of the nation's top 25 Tupperware distributors. Their success rewarded them with many adventurous trips.

Edward was continually active and enjoyed staying busy. He loved being outdoors, especially at their cottage in northern Wisconsin. He enjoyed playing with “big boy” toys of all sorts and for every season. He liked fishing, boating, snowmobiling, traveling, dining out, watching rodeos and western movies, listening to country music, doing puzzles, working in the yard, and watching the Packers. He lived a full and wonderous life. Ed had an immensely kind heart and was forever generous with his time and belongings. A devoutly religious man, he never spoke an unkind word about anyone. He was a man of few words; however, he had a gift of continually knowing the right ones. Ed was known to all by his magnificent sense of humor, always quick with a joke that left everyone laughing, smiling, and feeling a bit brighter as they went about their day.

Ed loved spending every minute with family and friends. He will be deeply missed by his devoted wife Elaine of Rothschild, WI; daughter Teresa Dombrowski (Rodney) of Weston, WI; daughter Tamara Ballard (Dave) of Wausau, WI; 3 grandchildren: Chad Gilray (Krisi) of Kronenwetter, WI; Desiree Dombrowski of Weston, WI and Jarod Dombrowski of Weston, WI; 2 great grandchildren: Cain Gilray (fiancé Hanna Olson) of Mosinee, WI and Carson Gilray of Kronenwetter, WI; and 1 great, great granddaughter: Hadlee Olson of Mosinee, WI. Ed came from a large family, having six siblings: Betty Lou Mulder, of Worthington, MN; LeRoy Rust of Luverne, MN; Marlys VanHal of Valley City, ND; Robert Rust (Anne) of St. Louis, MO; Allen Rust (Joanne) of Columbia, SC; and Audrey Sasson (Ronald) of Riverside, CA.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents Freda and Herman, his mother-in-law Emma Lingbeck, brother-in-law Richard Mulder, brother-in-law Martin VanHal, and sister-in-law Edwina Rust.

Ed will be deeply missed. Yet, in his own words, it is only “goodbye for now.”

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 12:00 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church (503 Schmidt Ave. Rothschild, WI, 54474) Pastor Will Ostrem will officiate. Visitation will be held on Wednesday July 17, 2024, from 10:00 AM until the hour of service at the church. Entombment will be held at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in a private family service.

In Lieu of flowers, per the family’s wishes, please donate to the American Heart Association, or the Veterans of Foreign Wars.