Margie (Coss) Rust

Margie (Coss) Rust was peacefully called home on the morning of August 20, 2025, surrounded by love, after many years of living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Margie was the youngest daughter of Tyrus and Grace (Holey) Coss of Temperance, born February 27, 1947. A daughter, a sister, an aunt, a cousin, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, a teacher, co-worker, gardener, a neighbor… Oh! And a Michigan Football fan! When contemplating what this statement should say, the most important thing to share has nothing to do with the “timeline” of her earthly life, although it was a very full life, the most important thing is that Margie was special and “someone” to everyone who knew her. Margie went to Bedford High School, a 1965 graduate. She proudly played the flute in the marching band, participated in school musicals, and was on the homecoming court, while working as a carhop at the local A&W restaurant evenings and weekends. She went to Adrian College, where she was a Kappa Phi Gamma and home economics major. After college, she married Rusty (Kermit Rust, II) at Collingwood United Methodist Church. Collingwood was the church she’d grown up in, participating in youth group, singing in the choir, joining the women’s circle, and teaching vacation Bible school; it was a place of many life-long friendships. After college, Margie worked as a keypunch operator before being hired at Flower Hospital (when it was still on Cherry Street) as a dietician. She and Rusty enjoyed fun cars, participating in road rallies, and flipped houses. Margie sewed everything from clothing to draperies to upholstery and enjoyed decorating; each home was carefully planned and updated with classic style and features because of her eye for design and ingenuity for implementation. Shortly after their daughter was born in 1975, they bought a piece of property in Whiteford Township to build on. In the home that they built together, Margie and Rusty raised Cortney and Little Rusty (Kermit III). That home and five acres became Ironwood Nursery in the early 1980’s, and Margie soon became the “Mum Lady of Lambertville” because of the thousands of huge, $2.00 (later $2.50) fall mums that Ironwood sold every year. It was a family business that reached far beyond family for seasonal execution, but for almost 20 years, Margie was the face of that small landscape nursery, growing her prized roses each spring, achieving her Master Gardener Certification through the state extension, and helping area homeowners design and beautify their landscapes. She made many friends in her repeat customers, not to mention, she had a fantastic tan every summer for all her time and effort. As her children became older, Margie went back to Adrian College to earn her teaching degree, later teaching at Whiteford High School, Orchard Center School, and even teaching at Monroe County Jail, helping inmates earn their GED’s. Teaching was probably her truest vocational calling all along. She was extremely intelligent, and loved to read and learn new things, but most of all, she saw people through the most innocent, unblemished perspective allowing her to beautifully greet each student with an open mind, no prejudice or judgement, and with every faith that the individual could overcome any obstacle. She was kind, fun, always up for a new adventure, and had the greatest smile. You would never catch her without lipstick or her hair done. She was rarely cross, and never swore, but she’d “boo” at a passerby wearing OSU apparel, especially as she got older. She could talk college football – the players, the coaches, and the stats - with any fellow college football fan. She loved a good rollercoaster and believed in driving at least five over the speed limit at all times. She took great pride in her home, and she would have followed her kids to the end of the earth. After retiring, she and Rusty enjoyed their grandchildren – who were undoubtedly the most precious little humans on earth in her eyes. She volunteered in their classrooms and attended every event she possibly could to support them. She carried their pictures in her purse, willing at a moment’s notice to share them with anyone who would listen. Her family was everything to her! She was a self-less and unwavering caretaker to her husband until his final months, and as Alzheimer’s Disease clouded her memories and distorted her reality, she remained a Mom and Grandma who was silly and sweet. Even if she didn’t know their names, she knew “her people” to the very end. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ty and Grace Coss, her sister, Ruth Stewart, and her husband, Rusty. Surviving her are her children, Cortney (Jack) Schaefer of Lambertville, Michigan, and Kermit (Arlene) Rust III of Wichita, Kansas, as well as her five grandchildren, Jackie, Grant, Kermit IV, Kendall, and Henry. She will be remembered, not for huge, worldly achievements, but for every small act of kindness, quiet encouragement, and thoughtful gesture she extended to those fortunate enough to have crossed her path. Family and friends are invited to visit on Monday, August 25, 2025, from 2:00pm – 8:00pm at Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 W. Sylvania Ave. Visitation will also be at the funeral home on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, from 10:00am – 11:00am, with a memorial service beginning at 11:00am. Interment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Memory Lane Care Services.

Margie (Coss) Rust

February 27, 1947 - August 20, 2025