Connellsville man a 'staunch volunteer' who loved local history

If it was about Connellsville, Tom Rusnack was interested.

Mr. Rusnack was a life member of the Connellsville VFW and AMVETS, a regular member of the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus, part of the Fayette County Cultural Trust and a board member at the Wesley Health Center.

“He was a staunch volunteer,” said Wesley President Paula Grubach. “We distribute free flu shots to the community each year, and Tom was the first person in line to come and help make that work.”

Thomas E. Rusnack of Connellsville died Monday, Feb. 17, 2020. He was 72.

Born July 28, 1947, in Connellsville, he was a son of the late Robert J. and Helen B. Davin Rusnack. He graduated from Father Geibel Memorial High School and attended both Alliance College in Cambridge Springs and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Rusnack worked for the Pennsylvania Employment Office in Connellsville, where he met his wife, Shirley A. Lowdermilk Rusnack. The couple was married March 16, 1991.

“He was an avid collector of Connellsville memorabilia,” said his stepdaughter Sue Uram of Connellsville, who lives in the house where Mr. Rusnack grew up.

“He collected so many things on Connellsville history, including a lot of postcards,” said stepdaughter Lisa Gerdes of O’Hara Township. “He also put together a number of presentations over the years about local history that he put on for groups and organizations.”

Karen Hechler, president of the Connellsville Historical Society, said Mr. Rusnack was an invaluable resource.

“He was the person I turned to when I needed information about Connellsville,” Hechler said. “He had a magnificent collection of photographs, he knew this city and he always had materials to share with me.”

Mr. Rusnack was a U.S. Army veteran, serving as a sergeant and stationed in Korea during the Vietnam War, serving from October 1968 to July 1970.

He was also a member of the Connellsville Historical Society.

He worked with the Fayette County Cultural Trust to create the Crossroads Magazine publication, and spent a great deal of time volunteering for Wesley Health Center events.

“He was involved in all kinds of community things, and when he committed to something, he didn’t miss any meetings,” Grubach said. “He worked fundraisers, spaghetti dinners and golf outings. It’s a huge loss to our community.”

Mr. Rusnack is survived by his wife, Shirley A. Lowdermilk Rusnack; three stepdaughters, Angela Dilmoreof Lake Charles, La., Sue Uram of Connellsville, and Lisa Gerdes of Pittsburgh; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Robert J. Rusnack, of LaGrangeville, N.Y., and William C. Rusnack aof Marina del Rey, Calif.

Friends will be received from 5-9 p.m. Thursday at Brooks Funeral Home, 111 E. Green St., Connellsville. A 10:30 a.m. funeral will be held Friday at Connellsville Presbyterian Church, 701 S. Pittsburgh St. A committal service will follow in the chapel at St. Rita’s Cemetery, with military rites by the Connellsville VFW and American Legion Honor Guard.

Interment will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.