Bill Rusk

Robert William “Bill” Rusk

Robert William “Bill” Rusk passed away peacefully in the early hours of Saturday February 28, 2015 with his loving wife Erma by his side. Bill was born on June 14, 1931 to parents Robert & Ellen (McKay) Rusk in Amaranth, MB.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Erma of 57+ years, son Daryl (Lori) of St Andrews, grandchildren: Trevor & Jeremy Rusk and Tyler & Chantel Dueck, siblings: Caroline (Ivan) Fitzsimmons (Birds Hill), Helen Asham (Winnipeg), brother-in-law Bryan (Al) Link (Clandeboye), numerous nieces and nephews, and many good friends & neighbors, including their snowbird friends in Yuma, AZ.

Predeceased by his daughters, Tanis Dueck in October 2000 and Cheryl Rusk in August 2006, his parents, in-laws, Nelson & Isabelle Link, siblings: Rita (Henry) Kreutzer, Alec Rusk, Jean (Stanley) Anderson, Phyllis (John) Clark, Harriet (Eddy) Post and brother-in-law Harvey Asham.

Bill attended the elementary and high schools in Amaranth, after graduation he worked for the Canadian National Railway for eight years. He married his best friend and the love of his life Erma (Link) in June 1957 at the Amaranth United Church. They lived and worked in the Portage area and in November 1959 they started their family with the birth of twins, Daryl & Cheryl. When Bill needed to be around home more to help with the two little ones, he began his career at the Manitoba Development Center (MDC) in the summer of 1960. He started his three year Psychiatric Nurses training in the fall of 1960 and graduated in 1963. They had another addition to their family during this time with the birth of Tanis in September 1962. Bill worked a lot of night shifts so that he could babysit during the day when Erma worked. He worked at the MDC as a charge nurse in the Middlecourt (Hospital) Ward for most of his 30 years, retiring in 1990. He was very active with the Manitoba Government Employees Union during his employment, representing the psychiatric nurses at MDC in the contract negotiations and attending conferences throughout Canada.

Bill so enjoyed his retirement, taking several Caribbean & Mexican Riviera cruises but his favorite spot was their trailer in Westwinds RV & Golf Resort in Yuma, AZ. They spent 22 good years of Snow Bird lifestyle enjoying their park life and the numerous great friends they met – many of them from Manitoba or Canada. Bill had never golfed prior to his retirement, but once he started he really enjoyed the game and played often, especially in Yuma. He also re-found his boyhood game of billiards playing in several Pool Leagues with his Yuma friends.

Bill always had time for family and friends, with many camping & fishing adventures to all corners of Manitoba and beyond. He was the happiest when all the family got together – birthdays, thanksgiving, Christmas or just for a supper & party. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren, taking each of them on several camping trips to the beach or golfing. Just this past December he so enjoyed watching Jeremy play in a hockey tournament in Winnipeg.

A Celebration of Bill’s Life will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at McKenzie United Church, 85  11th Street NW, at 2:00 pm led by Rev. Marg Scott.

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Portage General Hospital – Surgical & Medical staff, Dr. Jim Price and Sunset Palliative Care for the care and attention they gave Bill during the last two months of his life.

If friends so wish, donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the Sunset Palliative Care Inc. Box 92, Portage La Prairie, MB. R1N 3B2 or to Cancer Care Manitoba, 675 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB. R3E 0V9.

Rest in Peace Bill / Dad / Bop – Till We Meet Again

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.  204-857-4021 www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com