Memorials: Wilbur A. Rusk Memorial Fund, c/o Smith Funeral Home, PO BOX 485, Victor, Iowa 52347. Wilbur Albertus Rusk was born the son of Elmer and Merle Henry Rusk on December 20, 1926 in Belle Plaine, Iowa. He was raised in Belle Plaine and he graduated from Belle Plaine High School with the class of 1944. He honorably served his country in the United States Army during World War II. He was recently honored at the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. Wilbur was united in marriage to Betty Ann Bartachek on June 3, 1950 at the Belle Plaine Methodist Church in Belle Plaine. The couple was blessed with two daughters, Connie and Lisa, and a son Michael. They lived in Belle Plaine for fifteen years and Wilbur was a typesetter at the local Belle Plaine Union newspaper. In 1965, they moved to Victor and he co-owned and operated the Victor Record newspaper until his retirement forty years later in 2005. Wilbur was a member of the United Methodist Church in Victor, the HLV Booster Club, in which he helped found in the early 1970's, the Victor Lions Club, and the Harold E. Smith Post 54 Victor American Legion. He dearly loved his grandchildren and enjoyed attending their activities. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan and was an outdoorsman who enjoyed running the chains at the HLV Warriors football games, golfing, hunting and fishing. Wilbur is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Rusk of Victor; his daughters, Connie (James) Rusk Brown of Lakewood, Colorado and Lisa (Brian) Rusk Hinrichs of Guernsey, Iowa; his son, Michael (Candace) Rusk of Denver, Colorado; and his 7 grandchildren, Andrew Rusk Brown, Laura Diane Brown, Gabriel Rusk, Hannah Rusk, Chad Hinrichs, Jessica Hinrichs, and Faith Hinrichs. Wilbur passed away Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Marengo Memorial Hospital in Marengo, Iowa. He was 82 years of age and he was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Elmer and Bill Rusk; his sister, Jean Snodgrass; and his infant sons, Kerry and Kevin. Wilbur will be laid to rest next to his two infant sons, Kerry and Kevin.