Andrea Lynn Rusk

Andrea Lynn Rusk died Saturday, May 12th, in Chengdu, China. Andrea was born on January 29, 1967 in Winfield, IL. She moved with her family to Mesa, AZ when she was six years old. Andrea attended Hawthorne Elementary, Poston Jr. High and graduated from Mountain View High School in 1985. She received a B.A. in Special Education from Arizona State University in 1989 and later went on to complete a Masters of Arts in Education. Andrea taught Special Education in Mesa Public Schools from 1989 through 1995. In September of 1996 she moved to Taichung, Taiwan. She taught Special Education and English as a second language at Morrison Academy from 1997 through 2005. In September of 2005, Andrea moved to Chengdu, China to be an educational consultant. Andrea's passion was to assist children with special needs and their families in a variety of ways. She traveled all over Asia, encouraging families, providing testing for children with special needs, sharing wisdom, laughter and her love for God. She will be greatly missed. Andrea was preceded in death by her father, Frank Rusk. She is survived by her mother, Gloria Rusk of Mesa, AZ; sister and brother-in-law, Paula and Dave Edmonds of Meridian, ID; sister, Beth Rusk of Mesa, AZ; five nieces and nephews, Hannah, Emily, Becca, Jonathan, and Emyson Edmonds of Meridian, ID; and an extended family of friends all over the world whom she had the privilege of serving. She was surrounded by some of this extended family when she died in China of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church on Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be sent to the Andrea Rusk Memorial Fund at Trinity Baptist Church, 2130 E. University Dr., Mesa, AZ 85203. Services entrusted to Falconer Funeral Home.