Kathy Parker Rusconi, age 78, passed away peacefully at her home after a brief, but hard-fought battle against Bulbar ALS. The disease robbed her first of her singing voice, then her speech, then her ability to swallow and enjoy food. But she stayed hopeful and determined to keep doing things she loved through it all.
Kathy was born in 1946 in Gardner, Kansas, to Willard and Goldie (Tharp) Cross. She was the fifth of five children, a late-in-life child. She grew up on farms in Belton, Missouri and Tonganoxie, Kansas. Her parents taught her to work hard and to love her family.
Kath married her first husband, Dale Parker, in 1962. They had three children together, Becky, Melissa, and Brian. They moved to the Kearney area in 1971. Kathy was a stay-at-home mom.
She loved being there for her children. She was involved in all her children’s activities, including Scouts, 4-H, dance, choir, band, theater, and sports. In between, she raised a massive garden, and canned and froze the produce. She loved to sew and made many gifts as well as Becky’s wedding dress. She learned to decorate cakes and made many wedding and birthday cakes for family and friends.
In 1987, Kathy decided to fulfill her lifelong dream of going to college. She graduated from Missouri Western University with a degree in Elementary Education. She continued her education at Central Missouri State University where she received a Master’s Degree in Library Science. She taught third and fourth grade at Kingston, and took her library skills to Notre Dame de Sion Elementary/Middle School, where she worked for 16 years before retiring in 2015.
She married Jim Rusconi in 2015. They traveled together to Canada, New York, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona (Grand Canyon), Mount Rushmore, and Yellowstone National Park. Their final trip was a cruise up the Mississippi to see the Civil War battlefield at Vicksburg.
She is preceded in death by her first husband, Dale, parents, and her siblings.
She is survived by her husband, Jim; daughters, Becky (Todd) Schrivener, Melissa (JD) Roberts, and son, Brian (Emily) Parker; step-daughters, Jamie (Graeme) Rusconi and Patricia (Zachary) Rusconi; six grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Kathy’s life will be held Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Kearney United Methodist Church. The visitation will start at 10:00 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00. The service will be livestreamed through the church’s website for those who cannot attend in person. There will be a private graveside for family after the funeral.
In Kathy’s honor, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the ALS Foundation.
Arrangements in care of Fry-Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Kearney.
Our Sincere Condolences
Our thoughts are with you Becky, Todd, Heather, Amanda, Jim, Melissa, Brian and extended families, at this most sad and difficult time.
Kathy was a strong and brave lady who fought hard to the end. It would have been difficult and heart breaking to witness her health declining, but know she is now at peace and in a better place.
Yes, cry that she has passed but celebrate that she has known you and cherish the memories of the quality person she was and the life she enjoyed. May her memory be never ending.
Rest in peace Kathy.
Tim Welch and family
Perth, Western Australia
A lovely obituary! I know she certainly had wonderful children. I am sorry for your loss. I cannot attend the services as I have another funeral I must attend!
Terry