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Passing of Jack Rush ’73

Posted: 1/2/2022

In May 2017 Jeff Kranz (left) the Kansas City Area/Southwest Missouri Coordinator of the US Naval Academy Blue & Gold Program presented the Secretary of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award to Jack Rush ’73 for his three decades of work as a Naval Academy Blue & Gold Officer.

On Wednesday, December 29th, 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, Pennsylvania, 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 Ann O’Donnell, of Severna Park, Maryland. 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, Kansas. In 1993, Jack retired from the Navy as a Commander.
Jack epitomizes the US 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. In addition, he held Navy League Headquarters National positions of Area President and Midwest Region President. His volunteer efforts were unparalleled, as were his continued service for the Navy. In addition to his Navy League efforts, 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 5 grandchildren, Miles Herren, Elliott Rush, Maxwell Herren, Hayes Dean and Charlotte Dean; and two son-in-laws, 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, Kansas at Cure of Ars on Saturday, January 8th at 11am. 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/

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