Earl Robert Lyle Rusk

Earl Robert Lyle Rusk was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario on December 28, 1925. He passed into God’s hands to join his wife, Helen May Sherwood Rusk, on May 30, 2020. Earl was 94 years old and one of the Greatest Generation, a WWII veteran. He served on the Pasadena 65, a Lt. Cruiser, earning six battle stars, from Mariana and Peleliu, Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Tokyo Plains. The Pasadena was docked next to the Missouri where he witnessed the signing of the surrender. Earl then sailed on the captured Sakawa, a Japanese Lt. Cruiser, to the Bikini Islands for the Crossroads Atomic tests. Earl returned home in 1946 to New York and joined the Naval Reserves.

Earl’s favorite wartime stories were of how the brother, (Jim Keir) of his future brother–in-law (Lee Kier), shot down a kamikaze 200 feet from his ship, where he was standing. Reuniting with his shipmate after the war Jim told Earl of the many torpedoes that missed their ship while Earl was below deck. Another story was how the Captain, who was taking a shower, asked Earl to open the mail he had just picked up, to see if the Captain’s promotion to Rear Admiral had come through.

After the war, Earl went to work for the Shredded Wheat factory in Niagara Falls, NY where he met his wife, Helen, and married her June 5, 1948. (Their marriage lasted 64 years until Helen’s passing in 2012.) Earl then went to work for Stauffer Chemical Co. in Niagara Falls NY, built a house in Sanborn NY, next to the Sherwood family farm, and, with Helen, raised four baby boomer children, Dennis Eugene, Bradley Lorne, Diane Marie, and Earl Ralph. Earl was active in the American Baptist Church of Sanborn, serving through the chairs to Senior Deacon in the Ransomville Masonic Lodge, and secretary/treasurer for numerous bowling leagues.

In 1963, Earl moved his family to Boulder City, NV and was transferred to the Stauffer Chemical Co. in Henderson, NV. He retired as a foreman of maintenance. Thereafter, Earl moved to Henderson and built a small business with his wife Helen; the E & H Handicrafts and Ceramic Shop. After selling the business, Earl and Helen settled down to retire, remaining active in their church, Highland Hills Baptist Church, and enjoyed watching his favorite pastimes, hockey and baseball. In his last years, he thoroughly enjoyed weekly and biweekly home cooked meals and scrabble games at Dennis and Pamela’s home. In the past couple of years, his favorite teams were the Vegas Golden Knights and Cubs. He purchased Golden Knights jerseys for his brother (Lorne), three great grandchildren (Evan, Eli and Madeline), and Lorne’s grandson (Leo). Earl called them his own Golden Knights Team.

Earl was a man of faith, biblically well versed, a gentle soul, loving and kind, well like by friends and epitomizing the best of the Greatest Generation - all men and women are equal under the eyes of God. Earl didn’t just talk it, he lived it.

Earl is survived by his brother Albert Lorne Rusk (93) of Niagara Falls, NY and sister, Dorothy June Lipa (89) of Ocala, FL (Edwin Lipa); four children and their spouses; Dennis Eugene Rusk of Las Vegas, NV (Pamela Kaye), Bradley Lorne Rusk of Pahrump, NV (Delma) , Diane Marie Sullivan of Scottsdale, AZ (John Sullivan) and Earl Ralph Rusk of Greenwood, IN (Jean Lee); four grandchildren and their spouses, Kelly John Joseph Rusk of Stallings, NC (Jennifer Elisabeth ) , Candice Jean Veech of Greenwood, IN (John Guthrie Veech), Evan Robert Rusk of Greenwood, IN, Chaya Rose Rusk, (Joseph Beebe); and three great grandchildren, Evan Guthrie Veech, Eli Robert Veech and Madeline Mary Petra Rusk.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmboulderhighway.com for the Rusk family.