Kathleen Ann Rush

We regret to announce that Kathleen Ann Rush of Tumwater, Washington, passed away peacefully at her home on June 11, 2025. She was born on September 10, 1954, in Chicago Heights, Illinois, to William H. Rush and Dolores J. Gardner, and was the second of five children in the Rush family.

Kathleen graduated from Bloom Township High School in 1972, where a fortunate meeting with flight attendants sparked what would become her lifelong passion for travel. She went on to work in the travel industry for 41 years as a travel advisor with agencies in Illinois, Colorado, and later California, spending half of this time with the American Automobile Association (AAA). Always going above and beyond to make every trip special, she made many friends throughout a long career that concluded with her retirement in 2014.

Amidst her professional life, Kathleen also embraced her most important role—that of mother to her son, Colton J. Rush. She raised him as a single parent, with loving support from family and friends. Kathleen was always accepting and deeply supportive, offering her son a foundation of unconditional love. Her kindness and compassion were hallmarks of both her personal and professional life, matched by a quiet strength and the ability to speak up when it mattered most.

Kathleen found happiness in reading, cross-stitching, ceramics, scrapbooking, and baking. A dedicated Denver Broncos fan, she rarely missed a season without proudly wearing her orange and blue. Then, of course, her travels took her to many wonderful places, with especially fond memories in Australia and Switzerland.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her siblings—Jean, Mary, Gregory, and James—and her beloved son, Colton. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Kathleen’s memory to the Cystinosis Research Foundation (www.cystinosisresearch.org), a cause close to her family's heart.