Rosemarie (Smith) Rush

Rosemarie (Smith) Rush was born on June 28, 1937, to Rita and Wesley Smith near Primghar, Iowa.  As the oldest of nine children, she fully embraced her role and cherished her relationships with her siblings throughout her life.

In 1959, she married the love of her life, Patrick Rush, and together they raised their three children: Catherine, Michael and Daniel. Their nearly 60 years of marriage were filled with love, jokes and laughter.

The couple moved from Carroll, Iowa, to Canon City in 1984.  They formed lasting friendships and made many new connections along the way.

After attending St. Vincent Nursing School, Rosie worked as a school and surgical nurse.  In retirement, she fully embraced her role as a proud grandmother.  Family was her social network and friends often became like family.  Pictures of loved ones were prominently and proudly displayed on her walls.

Rosie turned every road trip into a family reunion, embodying that big family energy.  She was a master of casseroles with her Midwestern roots showing in her liberal interpretation of a “salad.”

She loved to give gifts, and visitors frequently left with something they admired or something she made, such as her homemade lotion, Nativity scenes, and beautiful needlepoint creations: quilts, pillows, and Christmas stockings – treasures her family will cherish forever.

Active in her church, her faith was an important source of strength and community; including the St. Michael’s Women’s Guild.

Her love, hugs, phone calls, and support will be deeply missed by all who were lucky enough to know her.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Patrick Rush; son, Daniel Rush; brother, John Smith; brother-in-law, Sonny Thompson and son-in-law, Patrick Gute.  She is survived by her daughter, Catherine Gute; son, Michael Rush; daughters-in-law Susan Rush and Jane Rush; siblings Lenny Thompson, Wes (Shirley) Smith, Susan Smith, Nancy Smith, Richard Smith, Bill (Joyce) Smith, and Mary (Jack) Kennedy; grandchildren Stephanie (Jake) Baumann; Jason (Lee) Gute; Heather (Nathan) Brown; Brenna (Noah) Rush; Ryan (Valerie) Rush; Colin Rush; Shane (Darci) Hale and Jen (Jim) Coulson and 16 great-grandchildren.

Rosemarie went to meet our Lord on January 28, 2025.  A funeral mass will be held in her honor at St. Michael’s Catholic Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2025.  A luncheon at the fellowship hall will follow the service.

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