John D. Rush
On Wednesday, December 29, 2021, John “Jack” Delbert Rush, loving husband, father of three, and a man of unquestioned integrity and impeccable character, passed away at the age of 72 after a fierce battle against Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Born and raised on a farm in Avella, Jack’s legacy will forever be a man of God, Family, Country, and Service. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, where he was also a varsity wrestler. While at the Academy, Jack met his soon-to-be-wife, Patricia Anne O’Donnell, of Severna Park, Md. Once graduated, he and Patty married and went on to have three children, Erin Marie, John Edward, and Kathryn Margaret.
Remaining in the Naval Reserves, Jack simultaneously pursued a successful career in the technology and telecommunications industry, where he rose to the position of senior vice president at Nortel Networks. That position ultimately brought him and his family to Leawood, Kans. In 1993, Jack retired from the Navy as a commander.
Jack epitomizes the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1973 Motto “Non Sibi” (Not for Self). For more than 26 years, Jack was an active volunteer and member of the Navy League, where he has held various offices in the Greater Kansas City Council, including president. His volunteer efforts were unparalleled, as were his continued service for the Navy. Jack served communion for the Church of the Nativity and Cure of Ars, drove the Uplift truck delivering food and clothing for the homeless in Kansas City, served on the Kansas Special Olympics Champions Committee, president of the Greater Kansas City Naval Academy Alumni Association, on the USS Kansas City (LCS 22) Commissioning Committee, and as the executive director for the American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation.
Jack is survived by his wife of 48 years, Patty Rush; and his three children, Erin Herren, John Rush, and Kathryn Dean. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Miles Herren, Elliott Rush, Maxwell Herren, Hayes Dean and Charlotte Dean; and two sons-in-law, Jon Herren and Mark Dean. In addition, he is survived by his siblings, Jay Rush, Kathie Hunnell and Susan Kepler; a sister-in-law, Joyce Rush; and a brother-in-law, Wayne Hunnell.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ethel Rush; and his brother-in-law, Earl Kepler.
Services will be held in Leawood, Kans., at Cure of Ars, at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 8.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation, an organization for which Jack worked tirelessly.
https://americanfallenwarrior.org/donations/
Donations | War on Terror Memorial & Museum in Kansas City | AFWMF
Financial Disclosure. The American Fallen Warrior Memorial Foundation is a 501©3 organization established in 2011 with the State of Kansas and the IRS.
americanfallenwarrior.org