Leonard Marsh Rush, 71, was mercifully released from his hard fought battle with behavior variant frontal temporal dementia on March 14, 2018 to be with his Lord Jesus.

Leonard was born May 31, 1946 to Joe and Wilma Rush (both deceased) and grew up on the family farm outside of Severance, KS.   

He was quite an athlete and was very involved in sports throughout his time in Highland High School and Highland Community College.  He held several records and still holds a record for the low hurdles.  He earned his Associates degree and married his bride of 50 years, Sue (who survives), on June 7, 1967.  

Leonard went to Mid-Continent Aviation School of Aeronautics and became an aircraft structural repair specialist.  Upon graduation they moved to Florida and he was employed at Pratt Whitney Aircraft as a journeyman experimental machinist where he worked with many varieties of “unknown” metals with extreme tolerances.  He made a part under heavy security that was used for the space shuttle.  He then became a journeyman lineman and worked for Florida Power and Light and then Kansas Power and Light.  His Dad asked him to come back to the family farm.  He worked 19 years for his Dad on the farm and supplemented his income by working for Midwest Grain Products in Atchison for those same 19 years.  Upon the death of his father, Leonard continued farming full time until his dementia made it impossible.  

Leonard always had a love for horses and dabbled in all things horses.  He was a generous man.  He helped many people pay for groceries and gave away many a hog he had raised for food for others in exchange for their help butchering them.  He would give you the shirt off his back if he knew you needed it.  He loved to have someone with him to talk to and he always dreamed big.  Fishing was lifelong hobby and it was a good trip if he got his “walking fish”.   

He was a proud father to six children: Teresa (Marty) Scheuerman of Severance, KS; Tami Sue Rush (deceased); Tisha (Tom) Sledd, New Castle, IN; Toby (JoAnna) Rush, Roeland Park, KS; Tonya (Jason) Grider, Halstead, KS; and Tara (Brian) Stevens, Palmyra, MO.  He was the proud Papa of 14 grandchildren:  Josiah, Courtney, Derek, Scott, Joel, Grayson, Doug, Matthew, Brayden, Ethan, Hunter, Daylen, Jasmine, and Isaiah.

He is survived by his sisters Doris (JC) Underwood, Mullinville, KS and Lois Davis, Brainerd, MN and his brother, Craig Rush, Hiawatha, KS.  His other siblings Merle Olds and Virgil Rush predecease him.  

Memorials can be sent to the organization of your choice.  Leonard was always touched by the children with cleft palates so you can also remember him by donating to Operation Smile or Smile Train.    

Friends may call the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Highland from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  Monday, March 19, 2018.  The family will receive friends Tuesday morning March 20th from 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Highland.    Online condolences may be made to www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com