Donald K. Rust

Donald Rust, born December 31, 1925, in Salem, Oregon, passed away December 2, 2015, at the age of 89 years old, just three weeks prior to his 90th birthday.

Don is survived by his daughter Tami A. Broyles and son-in-law Russell Broyles, both from Glide, OR; grandchildren Brandi A. Broyles-McGraw and husband Gregg McGraw from Glide, OR; grandson Conan L. Broyles; and great-grandchildren Jesse W. Broyles, Shaylee Broyles, Aurora Broyles, and Pheonix Broyles.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 33 years, Corinne L. Rust; father Albert Rust, mother Esther Young, and sister Ruth Russell are all.

As a child growing up in Roseburg, his family owned and operated a series of cabins on north Winchester Street, where the library, Bagel Tree, and a car lot are now located. As a young man, he and a friend released the brakes on a railroad car, were unable to reset the brake and the railroad car traveled through town unmanned and without incident. He and his friend were later identified by the Roseburg Police Department by following the snow tracks to their homes.

As a young teenager he worked in the Wilbur sawmill and in numerous feed stores, until his nation called for him two months prior to graduating from Roseburg High School during WWII. He joined the Navy and served as a boiler operator and firefighter in Hawthorne, Nevada. After his service he returned to Roseburg and opened Marks Hardware on Harvard Avenue. He also opened the first Suzuki motorcycle shop in Roseburg.

He and his wife were avid hunters and fishermen; they both shared the love of nature and the passion for Douglas County. Adventuring in a Carma Gia for a hunting trip, he and his father-in-law drove north to Alaska, past the Arctic Circle, where they both enjoyed hunting and fishing. This is where he became intrigued with the Alaskan culture. He still loved living on the North Umpqua River above the dam, but had a calling to live in Alaska, where he and his lifelong friend Bill Waldron owned and operated Nancy Lake Resort, north of Wasilla, Alaska. He enjoyed sharing knowledge and passion with those whom wanted to experience the culture, by renting out cabins, snowmobiles, and boats to those who wanted to live the Alaskan experience.

While in Alaska, he became engulfed with the love of flying and joined the Civil Air Patrol, earning the qualification of an observer. After 23 years of adventure, he sold the resort and retired, returning to Roseburg, where he lived on the North Umpqua River from 1950-2013. He enjoyed carving totem poles and feeding the deer, geese, and wild animals that entered the safe haven of his property.

Don was later awarded his High School Diploma in 2000, making him the first WWII veteran to receive his diploma in Douglas County. He was a lifelong member of the Elks, American Legion, VFW, and Civil Air Patrol. Don, you were a husband, father, friend, and hero and you will be truly missed.

A visitation will be held on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Wilson's Chapel of the Roses. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec, 15, Please share condolences and fond memories in Don's online guestbook..