Paul “Rusty” DeSabatine

Paul “Rusty” DeSabatine, 85, of Winamac, went home to be with the Lord at 12:22 a.m.  Tuesday, April 18, at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Paul was born on May 31, 1931, in Chicago, to the late Alfonso and Anna (DePirro) DeSabatine.  He lived most of his life in Winamac.  On Oct. 20, 1951, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pulaski, he married Betty L. Reutebuch. She survives.

Rusty went to school in Knox.  He worked at Studebakers, Kingsbury Powder Plant, and had his own milk route while also farming. Rusty worked for the county and state highway departments. He started his own excavating business which his sons are still operating today.

He was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winamac, where he served on the St. Peter’s cemetery committee.

He was an avid fisherman. Most of his vacations were planned around fishing. He enjoyed playing Euchre with his family and friends. Rusty enjoyed spending time with his beloved family.

He is survived by his wife Betty (Reutebuch) DeSabatine of Winamac, daughters: Barbara [Steve] Rausch of Winamac, Donna [Alan] Nicholson of Winamac, Joan [Tim] Murray of Winamac, and Rhonda “Weez” [Dave] Parcel of Winamac; sons: Robert [Sandy] DeSabatine of  Winamac, Ronald “Rudy” [Cindy] DeSabatine of Winamac, David [Monica] DeSabatine of Winamac, John DeSabatine of Winamac, and Thomas [Ida] DeSabatine of Culver; 44 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and sister Phyllis “Babe” Reutebuch of Pulaski. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Alfonso and Anna (DePirro) DeSabatine. 

Visitation was held from 3-8 p.m., Friday, April 21, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winamac. A scriptural wake service was held at 8 p.m. on Friday at the church. A funeral mass was held at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 22, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Winamac. Rev. Leroy Kinnaman officiated. Burial took place in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Winamac.

Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com.

(Pulaski County Journal — April 26, 2017)