Darlene Rush

Darlene E. Rush, 86, of Waukon, IA, died Thursday, June 30, 2016, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 6th, at 10:00 AM at Rossville Presbyterian Church in Rossville, IA, with Pastor Tim Rupert officiating. Burial will be at Rossville Cemetery, Rossville. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Tuesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Darlene Ellen Rush was born October 18, 1929, in La Crosse, WI, the daughter of Creighton and Gladys (Hanson) Bender. She was baptized and confirmed at East Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church in rural Waterville, IA. In 1947, Darlene graduated from Waterville High School; she played basketball and during her senior year, her team played in the state championship game. Because her parents moved to California, Darlene was raised by her grandfather Otto Hanson so she could finish school in Waterville. After graduating, Darlene worked as a secretary for Rath Packing in Waterloo, IA. While there, she met Elmer Leslie Rush, who was an electrician for the company; on October 17, 1948, the couple married at East Paint Creek Synod Lutheran Church. They farmed on Elmer's family Century Farm raising cows, hogs, sheep, and crops. She and Elmer also operated Rainbow Gardens Ballroom in Waterville for several years. After raising her children, Darlene worked at Iowa Turkey Products in Postville, IA for many years.

She was a member of Rossville Presbyterian Church, where she held several offices and belonged to the ladies circle; Darlene had a strong faith and found much comfort in that. Darlene also belonged to the neighborhood Social Sewing Homemakers Club and played in a card club. She loved gardening and growing vegetables and every year the garden, which she was really proud of, seemed to get bigger. Darlene enjoyed embroidery, crocheting, and mowing the lawn so she could work on her tan. She also loved spending time with family, canning and baking for them, and enjoyed making big family meals for get-togethers. On the farm, Darlene and the family processed maple syrup from the maple trees on the Rush family farm and that tradition has been passed down through the generations.

Darlene is survived by her seven children: Jim (Marcia) Rush of Rossville, Darlyn Hoover of Oelwein, IA, Dick (Deb) Rush of Buffalo, NY, Bob Rush of Oelwein, Don Rush of Carrollton, IL, Barb (Clark) Lewey of Decorah, IA, and Mari (Todd) Mellick of Hastings, MN; 16 grandchildren: Christine (Chris Anderson) Klingeman, Bill Hoover, Barb Hoover, Bylinda (Les) Allwood, Beth Schmidt, Rachael (Cortlan) Green, Raelean (Shawn) McGee, Regina Rush, Rebecca Rush, Richard (LeAnn) Rush, Kaylee Rush, Nicholle (Ted) Kuennen, Natasha (Josh) White, Samuel Lewey, Tyler Mellick, and Zachary Mellick; and 25 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Elmer in 1998; two infant grandsons: Jeremiah Rush and baby boy Rush; three brothers: Creighton Jr., Bob, and Dick Bender; and two sisters: Pat Stuffelbeam and Carol Brewer.

Honorary casketbearers are Darlene's sewing club: Sherry Halverson, Sherry Bechtel, Carol Yohe, Neva Bechtel, Betty Decker, Nona Hansmeier, Darlene Leas, Joyce Thornton, and Betty White. Casketbearers are Bill Hoover, Samuel Lewey, Tyler Mellick, Zachary Mellick, Richard Rush, and Jamie Prouty.