Anna Heller Obituary

Anna Bertha Marie Heller

May 22, 1932 - Sep 16, 2024

Columbus

Anna Bertha Marie Heller Rust, 92, of Columbus and formerly of Lakeside, passed away Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, at Kensington Place, Columbus. She was born at home May 22, 1932, in Westgate, Iowa, the daughter of Carl Theodore and Anna (Wetzel) Heller. Ann married Rev. Harold C. Rust on Sept. 2, 1951, and he preceded her in death June 6, 2012. Ann was the consummate preacher's wife serving with her husband at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bryan, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Baltimore, Maryland, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Elm Grove, West Virginia, St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Oak Harbor. While in Oak Harbor, Ann also worked for Moore Orchards. In 1979, the Rusts left Oak Harbor and moved to Florida, where they started a mission church, Concordia Lutheran Church in Barefoot Bay, Florida. While in Florida, Ann worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant at Humana Sebastian Hospital where she was honored to receive "Employee of the Year".

Surviving are her children, Rev. Stephen (Joy) Rust of Burlington, North Carolina, Rev. Dr. Theodore (Beverly) Rust of Raleigh, North Carolina, Andrew (Jill) Rust of Powell and Elizabeth (Ray) Windisch of Marysville; grandchildren, Dr. Jennifer (Douglas) Abbås, John (Mivvi) Rust, Joel (Kathleen Williams) Rust, Hope (Daniel) Gretsch, Christian Rust, Daniel Rust, Andrew Rust, Matthew (Patricia) Rust, Hannah (Eric) Oswald, Corinne (Rob) Bohnenkamp and Isaac (Meri) Windisch; great-grandchildren, Laney Rust, Carly Rust, Billy Rust, Johnny Rust, Addison Rust, Maren Rust, Henry Abbås and Stella Abbås.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Harold C. Rust; sisters, Marie Platte, Freida Hirsch, Ruth Bartels, Esther Gates and Corinne Trotter; and brother, Carl Helle.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, 122 W. Ottawa St., Oak Harbor. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at a later date at St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery, Westgate, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. John Ev. Lutheran Church Choir Fund or St. John Ev. Lutheran Church Seminary Scholarship Fund.