Joseph Emil Rust

Joseph Rust, lover of peanut M&Ms, connoisseur of Dr. Pepper, master assembler of Legos, purveyor of Bad Dad Jokes, and Band Dad extraordinaire passed away unexpectedly September 2025 in Westfield, Indiana. He was 49.

Joe was born in August 1976 in Indianapolis as the middle child and only son of Linda and Larry Rust and was raised in Zionsville. In his younger years Joe was active in Boy Scout Troop 358 and proudly obtained his Eagle Scout in 1994. After graduation, when the gas grill Joe and friends were using caught fire and the town's newest fire engine responded to the family house on its very first call, a passion for the fire service was (quite literally) ignited setting him on a path to becoming a proud volunteer of the Zionsville Fire Department.

Joe adored his wife, Joy and together they shared more than 25 years of laughter and love. His heart grew tremendously and was forever changed first in 2005 and then again in 2010, as he enthusiastically embraced one of the most fulfilling and important roles of his life when daughters Rebecca and Eleanor were born and he gained the title of "Dad".

While Joe spent much of his professional career working in IT, he will be remembered for the times he spent on Lake Norfork in Arkansas with friends and family, standing on the sidelines or sitting up in the box during the girls' marching contests, the spectacular footage he would capture flying drones, but most of all for his gentle strength and kindness.

Joe is survived by his wife, Joy; daughters, Rebecca and Eleanor; mother, Linda Rust; sisters Kristin Bachman and Jennifer (Seantaé) Holland, an adored neice and nephew, and treasured extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, Larry Rust.

A GoFundMe has been established to help support Joy and allow her to focus on the girls in the coming days, weeks and months without worrying about the financial burdens of this devastating loss.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for a memorial donation to be made in Joe's name to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention or to the Zionsville Fire Department for families in a time of need.