Charles (Charley) Henry Rusk, 78, formerly of Alliance, Nebraska, passed away November 21, 2021 at Rock Regional Hospital in Derby, Kansas.
Charley was born August 13, 1943 in Alliance, Nebraska to Everett and Etna Rusk. He graduated from Alliance High School in 1961 and earned his Bachelors’s degree in 1974 from Chadron State College.
After graduating high school, Charley enlisted and served in the United States Army from 1962 – 1965. Once discharged, he served as Deputy Sheriff in Box Butte County, Nebraska before moving to Washington D.C. to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the printing department. In 1971, Charley started his career as a locomotive engineer at BNSF Railroad where he worked for 33 years before retiring in 2004.
In 1972, Charley and his then-wife Carol (Farr) welcomed a son, Bradley Everett. Charley later married Glenda (Harvey-Shankland) in September 1987, becoming a step-father to Jason and Doug Shankland.
Charley and Glenda resided in Alliance before retiring to Lincoln, Nebraska in 2004. There, Charley enjoyed spending time attending Husker football games and traveling around the country, as well as visiting with family and friends. Throughout his life, he also enjoyed fly fishing, tying his own flies, taking the occasional hunting trip, and researching his family heritage.
Charley is survived by his wife Glenda Rusk of Derby, Kansas (formerly Lincoln, Nebraska); son Brad Rusk and his wife Kecla along with their children Keverett, Kileya, and Brayeshla all of Sidney, Nebraska; step-son Jason Shankland and his wife Angela Criser of Wichita, Kansas; and step-son Doug Shankland of Denver, Colorado. Charley was preceded in death by his parents Everett and Etna Rusk, his brothers Robert and Gayle Rusk, and his sisters-in-law Chris and Beverly Rusk.
No memorial service will be held at this time. Condolences may be sent to the Smith Family Mortuary, 1415 North Rock Rd., Derby, KS 67037.