Milton P. Rusch, age 93, passed away on Thursday August 15, 2024, surrounded by family in Bonduel. Milton was born on July 7, 1931, in a farmhouse on Wedge Road in the Town of Hartland, Shawano County, the son of the late Adolph and Minnie (Boerst) Rusch. He attended St. Paul Lutheran School in Bonduel. Milton was baptized and confirmed by Rev. Pleschke with his confirmation verse being 1 Corinthians 6:20 and graduated from St. Paul Lutheran School in May of 1945. He then attended Bonduel High School and was a part of the graduating class of 1949. Milton set pins at the R.J. Woldt Bowling Alley almost every other night for six years during the bowling season and bowled on different teams for 20 years.

Milton served in the United States Marine Corps from 1951 to being honorarily discharged in December of 1953. He hauled can milk from the farmers to Morning Glory in Shawano for 2 ½ years then hauled bulk milk to Morning Glory in Seymour for 11 ½ years. Milton worked on farms after milk routes weekdays on good weather days. He worked at Outagamie Producer and Alto Dairy both in Black Creek unloading bulk milk trucks from farms and reloading the milk into semis to ship all over the USA for thirty years.

On August 25, 1956, Milton married Mary Stern, the farmers' daughter, the girl next door in Friedens Church on the Hill in Slab City, Wisconsin. They lived in Alameda, California for one year, Shawano for five years, Bonduel for five years and then ultimately chose Slab City for over 50 years.

Milton watched every regular Packer game when Lombardi was the coach, many Brewer and Bonduel Bronco games but enjoyed high school sports the most. He almost always had a story or joke to tell or a cartoon to share. But playing sheepshead was his favorite as he usually was the one to beat.

Milton is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary; children, Marilee (Don) Eggert of Shawano, Mark (fiancée Kim Maduscha) Rusch of Slab City and Marilyn (David) Sumnicht of Bonduel; grandchildren, Michael, Christopher, Sara, Justine, Maranda, Malachi, Dana and Derek; eight great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Fern Stern of Alameda, California, Linda Spreeman of Bonduel, Sharon Szymanski of Marathon. He is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Milton is preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Minnie; brothers, Harold Rusch and Walter Rusch; sisters, Mabel Baumann, Inez Wolf and Hazel Bartline; brothers-in-law, Arthur Baumann, Jay Wolf, Marlin Bartline, Richard Stern, Willard Stern, George Stern, Donald Stern and  Ernest Stern, Jr. both in infancy, Floyd Spreeman and Howard Krull; sisters-in-law, Loretta Rusch and Gladys Krull; granddaughter, Hope Acacia Eggert; and parents-in-law, Ernest and Anna (Peters) Stern.

A funeral service for Milton will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday August 22, 2024, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bonduel with Rev. Mark Palmer officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday August 21, 2024, at the church from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm then again on Thursday at the church from 9:30 am until the time of service. Burial will be held at the church cemetery after the service.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Meadowview Assisted Living for all their wonderful care of Milton. Thank you to Moments Hospice for their care during his final weeks. Thank you to Swedberg-Wendt Funeral Home for all their help in arrangements.

For ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20