Marion Lou Rushlo's Obituary
Marion Lou Rushlo born April 26, 1929 at the family farm in Reese, Michigan to Cecil and Florence (Gulliver) Findlay. She attended the Van Patten School through the 8th grade and graduated from Reese High School in June 1946. She attended the 18-month secretarial program at the Northeastern School of Commerce in Bay City and graduated in 1948. Upon graduation she was hired by Otis and Bob Dibble of Dibble Stores, Inc. who had stores in Caro, Bad Axe and Big Rapids. On October 28, 1950, she married Don Rushlo at the Reese United Methodist Church. They built a house at 1220 West Caro Road in Caro, Michigan. This house was sold when Don was drafted in to the Army in 1952. He did his training at Camp Gordon, Georgia and was sent to Kaiserslautern, Germany in December 1952 staying until May 1954. When Don was shipped overseas Dibbles asked Marion to move to Bad Axe where the main office was located. In October 1954 they moved their 30 ft. trailer to the Findlay farm where their first son, Gary, was born in March 21, 1955. In mid-summer of 1955 they bought the Houghtaling house on M-81, fixed it up and lived there until the spring of 1956 when they bought a new 3 bedroom home at 928 W. Lincoln Street in Caro from Walt Tenza for $15,000. When Don came out of the Army he went in to partnership with his brother Ferris forming Rushlo’s Garage and Marion became their “official” bookkeeper. On December 26, 1955 a “surprise” set of twins, Gail and Dale, were welcomed in to this world. In 1963 the brothers, Don and Ferris, purchased Caro Wrecking, on M-24 just across the Cass River, and merged it with Rushlo’s Garage to become Rushlo’s Wrecking and Garage. Marion continued as bookkeeper for the brother’s as well as working mornings at Square Deal Auto Parts and serving lunches at the Caro Intermediate School cafeteria. In 1967, they sold their home on Lincoln Street and moved to a new home at 1100 Colling Road. In 1980 the brother’s dissolved their partnership and Don and Marion opened Don’s Travel Center (Rupp and Polaris snowmobiles and Sunoco gasoline) at the corner of M-24 and M-81 in Caro. She continued to do the bookkeeping for this business as well as continuing at Square Deal. In 1971 the business was destroyed by fire and they laid low for a few months. In 1972, Don and Marion purchased Michigan Docks in Battle Creek and moved the business back to their small farm in Caro. In 1973 they expanded the business and relocated it to a new facility on M-46 in Caro while moving in to a new manufactured home. The business grew over the years and was very successful. In 1976 Marion ran for Indianfields Township Treasurer against Jim Hyde and won. She held this position until 1984. In the fall of 1984 she lost her re-election bid because “Don told everyone we were moving to Florida!” Post-election they purchased 16 acres of an old orange grove in Avon Park, Florida which they cleared b sub-divided. Each of the streets was named for one of their grandchildren. They also built their “retirement” home, a brick 3 bedroom house that was handicap accessible. In 1986 they put this house up for sale and it sold with a 60 day move out! They immediately started to build a 2 bedroom and moved in within 58 days! In 1987 they drove their motorhome out west to Sun City, Arizona for one week. Don was involved in an accident. He spent one month doctoring in Arizona and the doctor would not release him from his care for one year. So, they flew back to Florida putting their house and belongings up for sale. All was sold and they moved back to Sun City where they bought a rambler on a golf course. Our friends, Wilma and Alger Lee Bush flew back to Florida to load up the remainder of our belongings and our son, Dale, came down from Michigan to bring back all of Don’s tools and equipment. After much doctoring Don was told by the doctor that he would never work again. During this time, she drove Don everywhere! Eventually Don tried his hand at making folding oak baskets and this was the start of a new business venture, Marion’s Crafts. They faithfully attended craft shows exhibiting and selling their crafts. Thanksgiving 1986 our three children, their spouses and our grandchildren flew out to Arizona to spend the week of Thanksgiving with us as Don was unable to travel. In the fall of 1989 we moved back to Florida living in a 40 foot motorhome settling in Ocala, Florida. The next summer we moved to Mount Dora Woods and Water RV Park. After four years there, the making of crafts getting bigger and bigger with more shows. We even started making cedar chests and eventually made one for each of our grandchildren as a graduation gift. Because of our businesses growth we had to move, again! We bought a home in Lake Sanders Subdivision on Carroll’s Court adding a workshop and car port. In 1998 we started volunteering our time at a non-denominational summer church camp, Spring Hill in Evart, Michigan for the next 15 years. In 2004 Don had a triple by-pass and we figured his days were numbered so we sold the house and made the “best” move of our life. We bought a home in Lake Francis Estates at 1423 Mohawk Circle. In 2007 we changed camps and moved to Camp Michiwana in Hastings, Michigan spending summers for 4 years. In 2009 we made a huge move from 1423 Mohawk Circle to 1429 Mohawk Circle because Don wanted to move again! We have spent many of our retirement years traveling by motorhome, 5th wheel camper or travel trailer seeing much of the United States. We have also gone on 4 Caribbean cruises. Marion earned her angel wings and went to be with her maker on May 10, 2017. She leaves behind her husband of 66 years, Don, and three children Gary (Sheri) of Chetek, WI, Gail of Salem, OR and Dale (Deb) of Ada, Michigan. She was blessed with five grandchildren Jennifer (Ed) Sternisha, Chris (Jen) Rushlo, Michelle Rushlo, Josh (Katie) Rushlo and Cory (Brittany) Rushlo along with nine great-grandchildren. Her sister, Jean Mohr of Caro, MI, sister-in-laws Kay (DuRussel) Findlay of Reese, MI, Pauline Findlay of Caro, MI and two brother-in-law’s Ferris of Sebring, FL and Dave of Scottsdale, AZ along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Florence, her brothers John (Kay) and Paul (Pauline), her sister-in-laws Phyllis (Russell) Findlay and Mona Lee “Wink” Osborn and a brother-in-law Ruben (Jean) Mohr. The family is requesting no flowers and that memorials be made to the United Congregational Church in Tavares, FL or the Reese United Methodist Church in Reese, MI. Arrangements have been entrusted to Steverson, Hamlin & Hilbish Funerals and Cremations, 226 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778, (352)343-4444. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall at www.steversonhamlinhilbish.com
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