John Henry Rus was born Jan. 4, 1937, and was taken to the house of the Lord to worship Him forever on Dec. 7, 2019, at the age of 82. Funeral service was held Wednesday, Dec. 11, at Covenant Reformed Church in Pella. Memorial contributions are preferred for Pella Christian Grade School.
John confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and believed in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and reigns over heaven and earth (Rom. 10:9-10). All glory to Jesus who loved John and freed him from his sins by shedding his blood for him and all of us (Rev. 1:5). Jesus’ blood redeems, cleanses, makes righteous and holy, and gives life to John. He now stands on the holy mountain of God in the Kingdom of heaven (Heb. 12:22-24). We praise the Lord for John’s faith!
John loved God the Father through Jesus His Son. John lived to serve Him. John was kind, caring, always friendly, and ready to help. He was a man of integrity, humility, and always giving thanks; a man who loved the Lord, his wife, and his entire family well. He always told his children, “We live to give glory to God.”
John was the third of seven children born to Henry and Johanna (Kruseman) Rus and grew up with his sisters: Dorothy, Wilma, Geraldine, and Nancy; and his brothers: Donald and Marvin. His family lived on a farm north of Pella. He attended European III Country School and Pella Christian High School. He was baptized and made profession of his faith in Jesus Christ at First Christian Reformed Church in Pella.
John met Frances Van Ee during their high school years. June 7, 1957, they were united in marriage at First Christian Reformed Church. They moved to a farm near Tracy to begin their lives together and raise a family. To this union five children were born: Stephen, John, Mary, Bryan, and Kathleen.
John was passionate about farming, working with machinery and livestock. He was skilled at building, fixing, and growing things. He embraced God’s creation and taught his children the wonders of the Father’s world. In his younger years, he liked to fish and hunt.
In 1977, John and Frances moved to their current residence in Pella with their family. He partnered with his brothers, Don and Marvin, in the gas and oil business including operating several Casey’s General Stores. But John couldn’t leave the farm forever. He returned to the farm operation full-time alongside his son, Steve. Even yet this year, he was still going to the farm almost daily.
John enjoyed woodworking and has left some beautiful wood furniture and games to be remembered and used by his family. Gardening, too, was a passion and he did it well. Frances and he spent many days canning and freezing produce from the farm and garden. They annually would pack the van and take trips around the country to visit family and friends and to see the beauty of the Lord’s earth.
An active member of Covenant Reformed Church, John served as a deacon, an elder, and committee member throughout the years. He loved his church family.
Confident of the Lord’s presence and care, John remained steadfast during his season of cancer, the disease that he is now healed of. The family gives thanks for everyone who came alongside John to encourage him, but to also listen to his encouraging words given to him from the Word of God and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, we give thanks to the Lord for He is good! His love endures forever.
John will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Frances, and their grandchildren, great-grandchildren. and children: Stephen (Laura) Rus of Tracy, John Rus of Des Moines, Mary (Kent) Maltby of Urbandale, Bryan Rus of West Des Moines, and Kathy (Greg) Van Soelen of Waukee. He is survived by three sisters and a brother: Dorothy Van Gorp and John, Wilma Ryken of Pella, Jerri Jansen of Sully, Marvin Rus and Carol of Pella; his sister-in-law, Linda Rus and brother-in-law Arnold Gritters of Pella; and the following brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: John and Alice Vande Haar, Marlyn and Jim Ebbers, Deb Van Ee all of Pella, William and Yvonne Van Ee of Holland, MI, and David and Carol Van Ee of Byron Center, MI.
John was preceded in death by grandson, Christian Van Soelen; granddaughter-in-law, Danelle Rus; parents; parents-in-law, William and Margaret (Vos) Van Ee; brother, Don Rus; sister, Nancy Gritters; and brothers-in-law: Cornie Jansen, Arnold Ryken, and Calvin Van Ee.
