Donald S. Rush, 84, Pompano Beach, Fla., and Madison, a former Stevens Point resident, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at Wm. S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Middleton.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Madison, with the Rev. John Nellissery officiating.
Visitation was at Cress Funeral and Cremation Service in Madison Sunday.
Condolences may be offered online at www.cressfuneralservice .com.
Mr. Rush was born May 22, 1928, in Holyoke, Mass., a son of the late James A. and Helen G. Rush. He grew up in Stevens Point.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy. From Great Lakes, Ill., he went to Portsmouth, Va. While stationed in Virginia, he served as a hospital corpsman and also in the fire department.
After discharge he returned to Stevens Point, where, at the urging of his father, he enrolled in Central State Teachers College. He transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and continued on to get a law degree in 1954.
He opened a private practice in the Gay Building on the Capitol Square, later moving to 30 West Mifflin St. He was a lobbyist in the Wisconsin political arena. He represented a varied array of clients. Among them were the Wisconsin Conference of Catholic Bishops, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors, Wisconsin Hospital Association, Wisconsin Credit Bureaus, Wisconsin Nursing Homes and numerous small local telephone companies.
He retired in 1996 and spent winters in Florida with his wife of 39 years, Patricia.
He competed in Badger State Games Senior, Wisconsin Senior Olympic and South Florida Senior Olympic swimming events.
Survivors include wife; two sons, James, Madison, and Steven (Kelly), Monona; one daughter, Diannah (Joseph) Jacobson, Madison; one sister, Jan, Key West, Fla.; and three grandchildren.
