Jim was born August 17, 1918, in LaCygne, Kansas, son of Edwin F. And Margaret M. (Taylor) Rush. He graduated from LaCygne High School in 1936. Jim was president of his class and enjoyed being the high school quarterback. After graduation he attended Huff Business College in Kansas City, Missouri, and was hired by Central States Electric Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Jim was drafted into the Army in 1943 during WWII, served in the South Pacific as an officer in the Quartermaster Corps, and was discharged as a Captain in 1946. His decorations include the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
After the war, Jim returned to Iowa and Nebraska to work for Westinghouse Electric from 1946-1953. In 1953 he moved
to the farm in Amoret.
In 1956 Jim began his career in banking at the Bank of Amoret while continuing to operate the family farm. The bank was founded in 1902 as a family-owned community bank with his grandfather, and namesake, James Rush, serving as president in the 1920s. In 1977, he sold his interest and the bank became BC National Banks of Butler, and Jim continued to serve as a bank director. In a News-Xpress article dated July 2007, Jim remarked it was heartwarming to be reminded by former customers of how the bank had helped them and his reward had been the many wonderful people he met along the way. Jim was inducted into the 50-year club of the Missouri Bankers Association in June of 2007.
On April 15, 1962, he was united in marriage to his loving wife, Joane Kenney, and to this union a daughter, Margaret, was born.
Jim was a kind and gentle man with a passion and zest for life. He loved golf, bridge, quail hunting with his German Shorthair Pointers and the Kansas City Chiefs. He loved raising cattle and his farm.
Jim was a Friendly 4-H leader in Amoret, Missouri, spear-headed the Red Cross County Drive for several years, and was a Life Boy Scout. He was a member of the Butler Presbyterian Church where he enjoyed singing in the choir and serving as church treasurer and an elder. He and Joane were members at the Butler Country Club where he served as treasurer. Jim spent 4 terms on the Butler City Council, a position of service he particularly enjoyed. He was also a member of Butler Lions Club.
Jim is survived by his wife, Joane Kenney Rush of the home; daughter S. Margaret Rush of Prairie Village, Kansas; two sisters-in-law, Lucille Cecilia Yacovetta Rush of Lakewood, Colorado, and Doris Marie Cowley Rush of Wichita, Kansas; six nieces and eight nephews and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin Franklin Rush and Margaret May Taylor Rush; 6 siblings: Lois Mary Rush Irwin, Paul Austin Rush, John Taylor Rush, Ellis Franklin Rush, Dr. Howard Edwin Rush, and Margaret Jane Rush Furkin.
