Memorials › Eleanor Louise Kohut Rusnak

Eleanor Louise Kohut Rusnak

11 Oct 1925 – 26 May 2020

Birth11 Oct 1925
Death26 May 2020
CemeterySaint Joseph Cemetery
Cyclone , Bell County , Texas , USA
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/210544273

Bio

Eleanor Louise Kohut Rusnak October 11, 1925 ~ May 26, 2020 Eleanor Rusnak, 94, passed away May 26, 2020 in Irving, Texas. She was born October 11, 1925 in Cyclone, Texas to John Victor Kohut and Millie Lena Helble. Her father owned a general store and her mother was a homemaker. She graduated from Rogers High School. Eleanor earned her teaching certificate in Bell County. She taught the lower five grades at Thompson School in Bell County Rural School District. She married Sergeant Ervin Steve Rusnak on July 15, 1945, at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Cyclone TX. They were stationed at the Alamogordo Army Air Force Base in New Mexico. In 1950, Sergeant and Mrs. Rusnak then made their home in Irving, TX and were married for 55 years until Ervin’s passing in 2000 at the age of 79. Eleanor gave birth to Sharon Ann in 1949. She taught first grade at Saint Luke’s Catholic School. In 1957, Ervin Steve Jr. was born and so began her life as a homemaker residing in Irving for over 70 years. Her life was interrupted in 1965, when Eleanor was diagnosed of a terminal cancer condition. Doctors told her she had 6 months to live. To that she replied, “I can’t go yet, I have too much to do.” I have to raise my two children and make breakfast for my husband”. She was among the first to receive cutting edge cancer treatment and her recovery was classified as a miracle at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, TX. Her case was used in medical journals and research by the hospital. Eleanor was known as Butch to her husband and relatives. She picked cotton, always had the whitest whites on the clothesline, ironed her husband’s handkerchiefs, was scared of mice and getting pecked by a rooster. She loved the Dallas Cowboys and never missed a game. Eleanor cherished her family and took pride in providing home-cooked meals always including three or four fresh vegetables grown from her own garden. She enjoyed canning, dancing, sewing and playing the Czech card game, Tarocks with friends. The family spent time together camping and fishing in area lakes and the Brazos River. She played with her daughter in her very own playhouse. She would sing, “Puffs and Fido, Chicks and Calfy” while drying her daughter’s hair. Baking became one of her specialties. She even baked two cakes a week so her husband would have something sweet to eat every day in his lunchbox. When arriving on holidays, she would make homemade cornbread and bread crumbs for “turkey and dressing”. We can still see the bread laid upon pans drying out before being prepared for her dressing. Everyone ran to the dessert table for Rice Krispy treats, Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake, homemade bread, coconut cream pie, her much revered angel food cake with her seven-minute icing. Family favorites were Czech desserts including her “Out of this World” kolaches and cinnamon rolls. Some fond memories were her simple treats like crackers and chocolate icing, Easter bunny cake, coleslaw, creamy rice, buttermilk, fresh mint tea, hand-picked strawberries, thick milkshakes, Dr. Pepper floats, sugar toast, snow ice cream, and canned dill pickles. The adults went on to indulge a “high ball”. She was like a grandmother to everyone and was adored and known as “Granny”. She loved having her grandchildren and great-grandchildren over to play mud pies, get dirty, collect eggs from the chicken coop, and play Croquet in the backyard. They had picnics in the front yard, made homemade donuts, played teacher on her chalkboard, curled her hair, ice skated down the hall in slippers, swam in trash bags, walked on stilts, and swung on the tire swing. Granny would always have gum and Dr. Pepper. Even though Eleanor was a dedicated wife and busy mother and grandmother she would go out of her way to volunteer asking nothing in return. Eleanor was a devout Catholic, a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church for over 60 years. Through her research and as historian at St. Luke’s, the state of Texas erected a historical marker at the church’s entrance that bears her name. Eleanor was preceded in death by her father, John Kohut, mother, Millie Helble Kohut, brother, Lansing B. Kohut, sisters, Cleo Leibham and Alberta Green, husband, Ervin Rusnak Sr. and numerous nieces and nephews. Survived by her son, Ervin Rusnak, daughter, Sharon Sulak, her grand children and great-grand children. In the last two years of her life, Eleanor bravely fought cancer. She was able to attend virtual Mass in the Hospital with her daughter during the weeks before her passing. She will remain a living legend to all those who knew her. A private family service will be held June 1, 2020. She will be laid to rest at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Cyclone, Texas...BRFH

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Married: July 15, 1945

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