ImoGene RushJanuary 1, 1920 - July 16, 2016ImoGene Rush was born a New Year's baby on January 1, 1920 in Pocatello, Idaho. She passed away peacefully with family July 16, 2016 at MorningStar Senior Living of Boise. ImoGene was the only child of Ruby and Ralph Muck. They were a Union Pacific railroad family and moved many times in her early years. When ImoGene was seven years old, the family relocated to Glenns Ferry, where she stayed for the rest of her childhood.ImoGene had wonderful memories of entertaining kids from Glenns Ferry at the family cabin in Featherville. The cabin is still used to entertain family, grandkids and friends.ImoGene graduated from Glenns Ferry High School in 1938 and then attended the University of Idaho, majoring in English. After 3 1/2 years at the U of I, ImoGene was married in the Glenns Ferry Methodist Church to another university student, Kirk Rush from Rupert.ImoGene delayed completion of her university degree when Kirk took a position in Preston where he began his life-long career as a vocational agricultural instructor and FFA advisor. Their first son, Ron, was born in Preston. After one year, the family moved to Idaho Falls. After one and a half years, Kirk enlisted in the United States Navy and ImoGene moved to Glenns Ferry with her parents for the duration of the war. Their second son, Dick, was born in Gooding while Kirk was still serving in the Navy.After the end of the war, ImoGene and Kirk moved to Nampa where Kirk took over the vo-ag department at Nampa High School. The couple built, with their own labor, two different houses during their eight years in Nampa. While raising two young boys, ImoGene substituted as a teacher and worked for Amalgamated Sugar Company. She often substituted as vo-ag teacher when Kirk was away with students on judging team competitions. She worried that students were going to electrocute themselves during shop class. In 1954, ImoGene and family moved to Moscow after Kirk accepted the vo-ag instructor's position at Moscow High. While in Moscow, ImoGene completed her degree in English and graduated from the University of Idaho in 1955. Her third boy, Mike, was born on September 27, 1955. Exactly two years later, she gave birth to their fourth and last child, Wayne, born on September 27, 1957. ImoGene taught English at Moscow High School and later worked for the Daily Idahonian newspaper as Society Editor. Her most memorable article was about Latah County's antiquated rural phone system. The phones were the crank type and ImoGene's home phone line included 17 households with rings she could hear, plus always knowing that someone was listening. When word got out ImoGene was writing a story about the phone system, telephone executives travelled to Moscow and interviewed her about what she intended to write. She told them she was just going to write the truth. Not long after her article appeared, the phone company began to modernize North Idaho's phone systems. ImoGene left her journalism career to work for the Associated Students at the University of Idaho from 1967 to 1980. As ASUI program director, she brought big-name entertainment to campus. She often was considered a second mother to many U of I students. ImoGene always remembered the many students she worked with including student body presidents and student officers. During a commencement address, Sharon Allen, Chairman of the Board of the international accounting firm, Deloitte LLP, mentioned how much she had learned being ImoGene's secretary during Sharon's time as a college student.ImoGene was very active in community affairs. Her affiliations included the Moscow United Methodist Church, PEO (76 year member), Faculty Wives Association, U of I retirees group, 4-H leader, Grange member and life member of the national FFA Alumni Association. ImoGene and Kirk established an endowment to provide scholarships for University of Idaho students. They enjoyed entertaining at their home at Crumarine Creek Ranch. Many college students enjoyed a Sunday meal and a walk in the woods on their beautiful farm. ImoGene loved to read. She often 'entertained' family and friends with passages she would read out loud from books, magazines and the newspaper. She passed that passion along to her children and grandchildren.In 2010, ImoGene and Kirk moved to Bonaventure Retirement Center in Boise (now MorningStar). The couple was about to celebrate their 74th wedding anniversary when Kirk died in 2015. ImoGene's extended family includes: four sons and their first and only wives, 11 grandkids, 20 great grandkids. She felt fortunate to know of the three newest great grandchildren born in 2016 and a fourth soon to come. A memorial service will be held on July 29 at MorningStar Senior Living, 5850 North Five Mile Road in Boise at 2:00 pm. Ashes will be spread at Crumarine Ranch in Moscow at a later date. As a memorial, the family suggests contributions to their U of I Scholarship fund: Kirk and ImoGene Rush Scholarship Fund, University of Idaho Foundation, Inc. http//www.uidaho.edu/inspireThe family wishes to thank the Staff and residents at MorningStar and Legacy Hospice for their kind care. Tributes and acknowledgements can be left at: [email protected]