David Eugene Rusch passed peacefully at his home Wednesday morning, March 11, 2026, in Pierce, Colorado. He was born on September 10, 1952, in Greeley, Colorado to Henry and Madonna "Pat" Rusch, the youngest of their four children. Dave grew up east of Pierce on the farm and graduated from Highland High School in 1970. After high school he enlisted in the Marines and was stationed in Japan during Vietnam, working in the post office for the military. Part of his job was to ride in planes to get the mail; flying and ships were forever something he disliked after that! On February 14, 1975, he married Sharon Moffat Fowler in Greeley, Colorado at the Presbyterian Church. Together they farmed, raising beets, corn, pinto beans, pickles, hay, and feeding pigs and cattle. A son, Joesph David was born in 1977, and daughter, Lisa Marie in 1979.

Dave worked as a Weld County Sheriff alongside farming for a while. Finding that it was not for him, he got his CDL and began driving truck for PT Transport on nights and weekends. Farming in the 1980's was hard and eventually Dave and Sharon sold the farm ground, keeping the house and a couple of acres to live on in 1995. Trucking led him to DCP Midstream where he moved from truck driver to measurement tech. He truly enjoyed the oil field and retired from DCP Midstream in 2022.

Dave and Sharon also bought the Ault Liquor Store in 2002 and ran it for 18 years, selling it in 2020. Dave loved to listen to Elvis Presley anytime, anywhere, and if he did not have two full-time jobs, he didn't know what to do. Not really one for hobbies or traveling, he liked to work and enjoyed all the people that he met and worked with throughout his many jobs. He also enjoyed cooking and most Friday nights at the liquor store you would get a jalapeno popper, or whatever he was making that night, alongside your purchase. Farming was always in his blood and any chance he got he would jump on a tractor to help with field work. Even when he could not quite do it anymore, Casey and the boys would help him in and out of the tractor or he would bring food to feed everyone. He had a big heart and would help most anyone, though he did believe in people helping themselves. Family members recall that the only thing that ever seemed to upset him was when McDonald's gave him sweet tea instead of the regular tea he preferred! Dave had a deep love for his kids and grandkids and was at all their activities and sporting events he could be at.

David is survived by his son, Joey and his wife, Brenda, and stepson Tony of Eaton; Joey's former wife, Laressa, and their kids, Laramie, Levi, and Lawson; daughter, Lisa and her husband, Casey, their kids, Elijah, Acey and Owen Elder of Ault; nieces and nephews, Kelly Mundorf, Bill Wood, Michelle Wood, Danielle Bratton, Karl Rusch, Jaclynn Rusch, Andrea Rusch, Stacey Hoover Tapley, Jeff Hoover, and Cliff Callahan; sisters, Linda Sue Wood of Pierce and Kathryn Rusch of Greeley; brother, Henry of Greeley; former sisters-in-law, Ingrid Gardner of Greeley and Terri Peterson of Ault; and former brother-in-law, Wayne Wood of Greeley.

David was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon; parents, Henry and Pat Rusch; in-laws, Clifford and Dorothy Fowler; and nephew, Clint Callahan.

Services for David will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday March 19, 2026, at the High Plains Harvest Church, 108 1st Street in Ault, Colorado. A reception will follow the services at the Eaton Country Club, 37661 Co Rd 39, Eaton, Colorado.