Agnes Rusch

Agnes Sadie Selma Rusch was a kind loving woman who always cared for others before herself. For years she worked side by side with her husband, Alvin, farming their dairy herd in the town of Stettin until retiring in 1996. At the age of 83, Agnes died peacefully at home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 .

She was born November 26, 1925 in the town of Stettin to the late Carl and Alvina (Wilde) Artus. She met Alvin at a wedding in Little Chicago. They fell in love and married on May 4, 1946 at Rib Falls Methodist Church .

Because she was an Artus, Agnes naturally loved to dance and Polka. Some of her hobbies included sewing, patching and embroidery, gardening, canning, caring for her flower garden, making her famous Pigs in a Blanket, baking, especially her home made bread, doughnuts, sponge cake and the hundreds of cookies she made over the years for Alvin and the grandkids. They never would have made it through college without her “care packages” of goodies. Agnes took pride helping her grandchildren learn how to can vegetables from the garden, bake, and help with various other fair projects every year. They loved going to her house in the summertime for a “vacation” where they have fond memories of helping her milk cows with buckets, pick up eggs from the chicken coop and being chased by the geese. In Spring Agnes made maple syrup, in Winter she butchered hogs and beef, made sausage, and at Christmas she made her homemade pepper nuts and put out a lavish spread of at least three meats and a multitude of baked goods. When leaving her home, no one ever left hungry or empty handed.

Living on the farm, Agnes loved animals, especially her dog, Scotty, her cat, Tiger, and was proud of her prize winning Jersey ’s.

Survivors include Alvin of the town of Stettin, two daughters, Kathy (Ronald) Schleif of Merrill, Sharon (LeRoy) Dehnel of the town of Stettin, 6 grandchildren, Christopher (Fiance-Becky Fawley) Schleif, Jennifer (Fiance-Toby Roberts) Schleif, Becky (Fiance-Mike Wiederhoeft) Schleif, Timothy Schleif, Troy Dehnel, Tracey (Fiance-Bryan Londerville) Dehnel, 5 great grandchildren, Tristen, Clara, and Tyler Dehnel, Jacob Schleif, and Sadie Roberts (named in honor of Grandma), 1 step great grandchild, Hailey Fawley and one sister, Esther Roy of Wausau. Agnes was preceded in death by one brother, Lawrence Artus and one sister, Myrtle Lodholz.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. , Monday, December 1, 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Church , 1008 N. 120 ^th Ave , Wausau . Reverend Clarence Gall will officiate. Burial will be in Stettin Christian Cemetery . Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Helke Funeral Home, Wausau and at the church on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Memorials may be directed to the church or New Life Pet Adoption Center , 125 Cattail Ave. , Marathon . You may sign our family guest book at helke.com.

Remember me when the flowers bloom, early in the Spring.

Remember me on sunny days in the fun that Summer brings.

Remember me in the Fall as you walk through the leaves of gold

and in the Wintertime in the stories that are told.

But most of all remember each day right from the start.