Howard Edwin "Tooter" Rusk

February 7, 1933 - October 21, 2019

Howard Edwin “Tooter” Rusk, age 86, of Versailles, passed away Monday, October 21, 2019, at University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics in Columbia. He was born February 7, 1933, in Eldon, a son of the late William and Maud Marie (Moore) Rusk. He was united in marriage to Sylvia Jeanne George in August of 1951. To that union seven children were born. She died in a tragic car accident in April of 1966. On August 12, 1973, at Sunset Hills Christian Church in Kansas City, Kansas, he married his surviving wife, Sharon Lee Rusk. She added three children to this union. Together, with their ten children, they shared forty-six years of marriage filled with love and happiness. Howard retired from Santa Fe Railroad after forty-four years. He enjoyed carpentry work and spent many years as a builder working for Cook and Sutherland while also working for Sante Fe. He was a member of the Versailles First Christian Church, the RC Flying Club in Eldon and served on the board of directors at Quality Industries. Howard will be remembered as caring, loyal, hardworking, generous, humorous and gentle. His love for God and family was never ending. In addition to his wife, Sharon, he is survived by his children, Phillip Mitchell Rusk and wife Carol of Basehor, Kansas, Darro Rodney Rusk and wife Sue of Kansas City, Missouri, William Howard Rusk of Stover, Missouri, Mark James Rusk and wife Naomi of Stover, Missouri, Joel Dennis Rusk and wife Dorothy of Ottawa, Kansas, Jeffery Linn Rusk of Drexel, Missouri, Karri Elizabeth Killingsworth and husband Gary of Kansas City, Kansas, Sherri Lynn Wronski and husband Steve of Port Orange, Florida, Donna Lee Passantino and fiancé John Brooks of Gravois Mills, Missouri and Beth Ann Montgomery of Versailles, Missouri; twenty-six grandchildren; thirty-four great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild due to be born in March; his brothers, Jim Rusk of Sterling, Colorado and Robert Rusk of Kansas City, Kansas and many other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, William Rusk, a grandson, Brandon John Chance and a great-granddaughter, Destiny Ann Witt. A celebration of Howard’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 9th, at the Versailles First Christian Church with Reverend John Wagner officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions are suggested to New Hope Christian Community in Versailles. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles.