Funeral Services for Glen H. Rusch, 85, will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 28, 2008, at the Mennonite Brethren Church of Fairview. The Reverends Brad Penner and James Suderman will officiate. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery. Arrangements are by Fairview Funeral Home, Inc.

Viewing will be at Fairview Funeral Home, Inc; from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Glen Henry Rusch was born on September 15, 1922 in Okeene, OK to Henry H. and Mary Catherine Rusch. He passed away on July 20, 2008.
Glen moved from Okeene to Fairview around the 6th grade and shortly after met the love of his life, Dorothy May Wahl. He would always tell people how they had been hanging out together since they were 14. Glen and Dorothy were wed on September 13, 1942. Just this past fall, they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.
Glen graduated from Fairview High School in 1940 and then from the Enid Business College in 1942. Shortly after, he was drafted into the United States Army Air Corps, which led he and Dorothy on many great adventures. Namely, the Air Force took them to Palm Springs, CA, which would keep them coming back until just a few years ago. While stationed in Palm Springs, their oldest daughter Sandra Sue was born in 1945. In 1946, Glen was discharged and moved his family back to Fairview. Glen and Dorothy were blessed with their second daughter in 1947, Cathy Lou. Glen loved to joke with his precious little girls and frequently called them "his boys." Many great stories are told of all of the teasing he bestowed upon his daughters and their friends. He even managed to carry this on to his grandchildren. Glen loved a good laugh.
Upon returning to Fairview in 1946, Glen opened a gas station where he sold appliances and boats. He was the first boat dealer in town. Soon after, he became the Ferguson Dealer, which would later be called Massey-Ferguson. He sold farm equipment and loved to trade. Glen's motto was "We trade for anything, anytime, anywhere." As his daughter, Cathy wasn't for sure that she wouldn't be traded for a "good deal." Going along with his farm business, he dabbled in agriculture himself as a wheat and cotton farmer. He especially enjoyed his registered Charlois herd, which ate out of the palm of his hand. After selling his implement business, he retired to his little shop on North Main and continued to tinker with tractors and pickups. Glen loved to restore things, but two of his greatest accomplishments were his 1955 Chevy Pickup and his 1953 Willy's Marine Corp Jeep. His '55 Chevy won National Champion and he loved to take it around to all of the various car shows. His later years were mostly filled with his time he spent at the shop and coffee twice a day. Glen never missed coffee, and we think it was hard for him to decide which was more important, the shop or his coffee buddies.
Glen always told everyone "Fairview is the best small town in America." He was very active in this little town and was an avid financial supporter of anything that would raise money for his beloved town. Glen was a member of the City Council, the Jaycees, and was a long time member of the Fairview Lions Club. Glen was a board member of the Fairview Fellowship Home when it was being built as well as a board member of the Major County Historical Society. Glen was instrumental in getting the Threshing Bee started and was the announcer there for many years. Glen loved his church, and was an usher and greeter at the Mennonite Brethren Church. Glen helped to get stock races started in Fairview. He participated in the stock car races and also the boat races at Canton Lake. With his love for agriculture, he annually provided an FFA scholarship for one of the organizations members.
After retirement, Glen and Dorothy became avid "RVers." They loved to travel and especially enjoyed taking their grandchildren with them. First, they took the oldest grandsons Chad and Jamie. Then later, Ragen and Drew would travel with them. Their first RV was a full size van in which they took Chad and Jamie far and wide. After many travels in their van, they graduated to a "fancy" motor home and life was luxurious. They loved to travel to Colorado and to Red River, NM. They spent the winters in Palm Springs, CA for about 20 years and would often fly the grandchildren out to spend spring break with them. They also took their family on numerous "Christmas Vacations" that will forever be cherished memories.
When Glen's health began to fail, Cathy moved him and Dorothy to Colorado where she and Ragen could care for them. He sorely missed his "beloved" Fairview and his inability to work. As sitting was something, that Glen was never very good at. Glen used to pray and thank God daily that he could work. Work and his family were what Glen loved the most.
Glen is survived by his loving wife Dorothy and his youngest daughter Cathy Corzine and husband Tom of Center, Colorado. Four grandchildren, Chad Burris, Tulsa, OK, James Fuzzell, Fort Myers, FL, Ragen (Fuzzell) and Justin Pepper, Monte Vista, CO, and Drew and Dena Burris, Hydro, OK. Two great-granddaughters, Rusch Olivia Pepper (Ragen), who he loved to refer to as his little namesake, and Addison Brooke Burris (Drew).
Glen was preceded in death by his oldest daughter Sandy, his parents, a sister Gladys Haunschild and his brother Gerald Rusch.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society: Breast Cancer or to the Fairview Fellowship Home with Fairview Funeral Home Inc serving as custodian of the funds.

Condolences may be made online at www.fairviewfuneralhomeinc.com