Russell W. "Rusty" Mace
April 4, 1935 — January 15, 2011
Russell W. "Rusty" Mace, 75, of Van Wert, went to be with his Lord at 3:24 p.m. Saturday, January 15, 2011, at St. Ritas Medical Center.
He was born April 4, 1935, in Van Wert, the son of the late W. Russell and Ella G. (Rise) Mace. On June 20, 1959, he married Janice (Kill) Mace who survives in Van Wert. He was a loving and devoted husband for 51 1/2 years.
Rusty was owner operator of Mace Body Shop, Inc. from 1961 until he retired in 1997. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 1362 in Delphos, Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197, Delphos Eagles Lodge Aerie 471, Celina Moose Lodge 1473, Delphos St. John's Booster Club and a member of St. John The Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Delphos. He was a lifelong fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cleveland Browns and Delphos St. John's Blue Jays. He loved traveling in his RV with many adventures throughout the states with his wife and friends.
Survivors include three children, David (Melanie) Mace of Van Wert, OH, Jerome "Jerry" (Angie) Mace of Ft. Wayne, IN, and Debra (Paul) Ray of Van Wert, OH. Eight grandchildren, Danielle Louise Ray, Taylor Joyce Ray, Mackenzie Russell Ray and Kellie Marie Mace all of Van Wert, OH, Brooklyn Colby Mace, Dustin Douglas Kanorr, Brandilyn Carmen Mace and Dakota Lee Mace all of Ft. Wayne, IN. His grandchildren will all miss the World's Greatest Grandpa. Also surviving are 2 sisters-in-law, Patsy (John) Wellman, MaryLou (Ed) Paxton and a brother-in-law, Dan (Robin) Kill all of Delphos and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 19, at St. John The Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Delphos, with Father Mel Verhoff officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are from 6-8 p.m. Monday, January 17, and 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 18 at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert, with a Parish Prayer Vigil beginning at 8pm Tuesday evening at the funeral home.
Preferred memorials: Gerad Center for Cancer Treatment and Delphos St. John School
Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at bricknerfuneralhome@bright.net.