John Rusk's Cremation
Donation protected
This is a fundraiser to help with the cremation costs of my father John Charles Rusk. This is extremely difficult for me to do as I hate asking for money from anyone, but I feel that the circumstances that my father put my half-sister Lily and I in, is worth the effort.
John was a decorated Vietnam Vet. When he returned from the war he suffered from massive amounts of PTSD. Battling this disease, he led a life that very much resembled a roller coaster. Ups and downs.
When things were good he was one of the most charming and caring individuals you would cross paths with. He was fun and loved to laugh. It's this side of his personality that kept me coming back to wanting to maintain a relationship with him. There were times when I can honestly say I loved my father.
Unfortunately, when things were bad in his life, he was the most destructive person I have ever personally encountered. I will never go into all the details of the things he has said or done to me or my family. The years at a time that he just disappeared from my life. His lack of support for my mother among other things is deplorable.
I know that Lily's and her mother's experiences with him are very similar. When we have spoken, we often catch ourselves saying the exact same things to each other. Sometimes word for word. In a strange way, we have almost found some comfort knowing that we were not the only ones to have to deal with his negative influences.
John passed away in June. Unfortunately, he left his family with more questions than answers. There was no will. At the time of his death, his house had fallen into foreclosure, and regardless, the estate is still in the name of his the last of his three ex-wives. There is no money or support that was left in John's absence.
After John had passed, Lily and my uncle Steve had met with the funeral home director. He had informed them that they need not worry about the cremation expenses. My father was receiving full disability from the Veterans Administration and they were informed that the VA would cover all the costs. Lily signed off on the paperwork for the funeral home to go forward with the cremation.
A couple of weeks later the funeral home called. They had informed Lily that the cremation costs were denied funding by the V.A. I reached out to the V.A. in hopes they would reconsider. After waiting many days, they replied and they indeed are not covering the costs. They provided no reason why but after doing my own research, they do state on their website that they cover many things but not costs involving the funeral home. I feel that the funeral home may have said what Lily needed to hear in order to get her to sign for the cremation. This left Lily on the hook for the costs. Pretty rotten.
Therefore, we are asking for any help in covering the costs. I wish we were rich and this was just not a big deal, but it is for both of us. Please help if you can and regardless of whether you are able to donate or not, we wish you all nothing but love. At the very least, thanks for taking the time to read this. Take care.
John was a decorated Vietnam Vet. When he returned from the war he suffered from massive amounts of PTSD. Battling this disease, he led a life that very much resembled a roller coaster. Ups and downs.
When things were good he was one of the most charming and caring individuals you would cross paths with. He was fun and loved to laugh. It's this side of his personality that kept me coming back to wanting to maintain a relationship with him. There were times when I can honestly say I loved my father.
Unfortunately, when things were bad in his life, he was the most destructive person I have ever personally encountered. I will never go into all the details of the things he has said or done to me or my family. The years at a time that he just disappeared from my life. His lack of support for my mother among other things is deplorable.
I know that Lily's and her mother's experiences with him are very similar. When we have spoken, we often catch ourselves saying the exact same things to each other. Sometimes word for word. In a strange way, we have almost found some comfort knowing that we were not the only ones to have to deal with his negative influences.
John passed away in June. Unfortunately, he left his family with more questions than answers. There was no will. At the time of his death, his house had fallen into foreclosure, and regardless, the estate is still in the name of his the last of his three ex-wives. There is no money or support that was left in John's absence.
After John had passed, Lily and my uncle Steve had met with the funeral home director. He had informed them that they need not worry about the cremation expenses. My father was receiving full disability from the Veterans Administration and they were informed that the VA would cover all the costs. Lily signed off on the paperwork for the funeral home to go forward with the cremation.
A couple of weeks later the funeral home called. They had informed Lily that the cremation costs were denied funding by the V.A. I reached out to the V.A. in hopes they would reconsider. After waiting many days, they replied and they indeed are not covering the costs. They provided no reason why but after doing my own research, they do state on their website that they cover many things but not costs involving the funeral home. I feel that the funeral home may have said what Lily needed to hear in order to get her to sign for the cremation. This left Lily on the hook for the costs. Pretty rotten.
Therefore, we are asking for any help in covering the costs. I wish we were rich and this was just not a big deal, but it is for both of us. Please help if you can and regardless of whether you are able to donate or not, we wish you all nothing but love. At the very least, thanks for taking the time to read this. Take care.
Organizer
Warren Rusk
Organizer
Kent, WA