Francis W. "Rusty" Fitzgerald, age 82, of Lyndon Station, Wisconsin, passed into Heaven on Friday, August 28, 2015 at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston, Wisconsin.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lyndon Station with Father Antony Arokiyam celebrating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday evening, September 1, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Conway–Picha Funeral Home in Lyndon Station. A further visitation will be held on Wednesday morning at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. followed by a procession to the church for Mass at 11:00 a.m. Military Honors will be provided by the Maurice C. Havey Post #5970 of Lyndon Station.
Rusty was born on December 13, 1932, the son of Frank and Anna (Sullivan) Fitzgerald, on the family farm in the town of Seven Mile Creek. Rusty graduated from Mauston High School in 1951 where he excelled in sports and was most proud of his boxing achievements. Rusty joined the US Army on April 25, 1955 and was discharged with a Good Conduct Medal on April 5, 1957. He returned home and purchased the family farm from his parents.
Rusty married Vanita Ann Goetz in 1970 and together they farmed until 1995 when he went to work for the Dells Boat Company where he worked on the docks and drove trolley.
Rusty is survived by Vanita's son, Donald (Christine) Carter of Lyndon Station and her daughter, Jody (Derrik) Gwin and Jody's daughters, Alexis and Anestasia Gwin of Coloroado Springs, CO; brother, Mike (Delores) of Roscoe, IL; sister, Mary (Henry) Gonzales of South Beloit, IL and Lucy "Tutsie" (Larry) Barnes of Mauston, WI as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Patrick Fitzgerald and Dennis Fitzgerald; sisters, Iona Fitzgerald, Geraldine Kranz, Rosie Finlayson and Cecelia La Rue.