June 24, 1939 – January 15, 2016
Barbara Rusick passed away Jan. 15, 2016, in a losing battle with lung cancer complicated by pneumonia at her home in Ivins, Utah. She was born to Emily and Edward Spas June 24, 1939. She married Ron Rusick in Chicago, Illinois, and together they enjoyed 55 wonderful years together.
When Barbara retired to Ivins in 1998, she built her third home and immediately got involved in the City of Ivins government. Barbara served two years on the planning commission after which she ran for election for City Council and served for two four-year terms.
She enjoyed working with the Democrats of Southern Utah and helped to establish INKAS (Ivins No Kill Animal Supporters) where she served as president in both organizations. Barbara also worked at Beatrice Corporation where she specialized as a Corporate Acquisition Analysis, a job she truly enjoyed.
Her favorite pastime activities were needle work, reading, playing pinochle and traveling. Through the years, Barbara and Ron traveled all 50 states on driving trips. As her granddaughters came to Ivins on their summer vacations, Barbara was again privileged to visit all the states west of the Mississippi from Canada to Mexico, including Alaska, through their eyes.
Barbara was a fighter to the end. Her last objective was to spend Christmas with her family at an Oceanside condo in California. To accomplish this, she had to have physical therapy training to get her strength up to endure a week of enjoying the holiday with her son and his family. This she did and had a wonderful Christmas.
In death, she leaves behind her husband, Ronald; her son, Edward, and his wife, Nancy; and two wonderful granddaughters, Jessica and Nicole.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a donation to INKAS. Friends and family are invited to share condolences online. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-2085.
