Arthur James Rushka of Brooks, beloved husband of the late Audrey Rushka, passed away in Brooks on February 20th, 2024 at the age of 87 years. Art was born on September 7th, 1936, to Stanley and Angela Rushka in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. Dad met mom while racing horses at the Sturgis Rodeo in 1954, they were married on June 25th, 1957. Together with their children they moved 11 times in 10 years following dad's job on the drilling rigs, landing in Brooks in 1964, where they would remain. Dad retired from the rigs in 1977, not long after starting ACD pressure testing for several years. His second retirement he was a guard for the Brooks RCMP detachment; then joined Ron, Kelly and the team at Smith Funeral Home. Dad kept very busy on their acreage NW of Brooks; planting a huge garden (sharing with many his abundant harvest), a huge raspberry patch…he could pick buckets of Saskatoon's in no time, and if he picked the berries, they were easy to clean. They enjoyed having horses again (so happy to have a couple of grandchildren share their passion of horseback riding). Dad looked forward to yearly trail rides to Kananaskis with his grandson Jeffery, his annually hunting trips, going to the casino, playing crib (one of the few that could say he had the perfect 29 hand) and his great-grandchildren brought a big smile to his face. Dad missed the acreage; but it didn't take long for him to pick up the handy man job when they moved to the condo. Dad became a care giver for mom, after having a fall she was moved to LTC; dad was there every day, most days three times a day, it became his second home. He was proud of 49 years of sobriety, and the many lifelong, friendship's he made learning to live one day at a time…

Art is survived by his special friend Carol; his children, Carrie (Dean), Trena (Larry), Lonny (Nancy) and Trevor; his grandchildren, Jerod (Kim), Jonathan, Jill (Gord), Nicole (Danny), Leighton (Taryn), Derek (Lacey), Amy and Ian (Karley); 15 great grandchildren; brother James (Theresa) and  sister-in-law Valerie. Art was pre-deceased by his wife of 61 years Audrey in 2019; parents, Stanley and Angela Rushka; brother Rev. Gordon Rushka and grandson Jeffery Nielsen. As per Dad's wishes a graveside service will take place.

Cremation is entrusted to and conducted at

Smith Funeral Home Ltd., Brooks