M. Joan Rusk

Marilyn Joan ( Jo ) Rusk of Maple Grove passed away peacefully on January 17, 2019 at the age of 82. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother who was kind, caring and strong. Her greatest joy was her family and she especially loved following her grandchildren in their many endeavors. She was an avid sports fan with a love of college basketball and football. She grew to love volleyball, hockey and soccer after rarely missing a game her grandchildren played.

Jo graduated top of her class in 1954 from Russell High School in Russell, Kansas. She went on to enroll at Emporia State Teachers College where she studied music. It was there that she met a young physics student named Alvin Rusk. They were married on July 31, 1955 in Russell, Kansas and began their life together living in Iowa, Missouri and Kansas before settling in Marshall, MN in 1970. They were blessed with four children; Kathy in 1957, Cindy in 1958, James in 1960 and Jennifer in 1963. Jo graduated from Southwest State University in 1982 with a BA in accounting while raising four kids and working full time in the business office at Southwest State. She continued to work there until retirement in 1992.

During retirement Jo and Al travelled extensively throughout the United States in their motor home visiting 45 states including Alaska. They settled for a time in Casa Grande, Arizona before coming back to Minnesota in the fall of 2006.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years Alvin; daughters Kathy ( Dean ) Buysse of Woodland Park, CO, Cindy ( Doug ) Schnittgen of Oakley, MN, Jennifer (Todd ) Ellingson of Maple Grove, MN and son James

( Shannon ) Rusk of Edina, MN. Grandchildren include Brad ( Angie ) Buysse, Megan ( Josh ) Driessen, Sam, Dylan and Anna Rusk and Rachel, Grace and Natalie Ellingson. Great grandchildren include Braxton and Brooklyn Driessen.

The family will be having a private prayer service at Silver Creek on Main in Maple Grove. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul, MN.