Obituary for Paul Rusten | David Lee Funeral Home & Cremation Services
- Date Of Birth: September 4, 1922
- Date Of Death: October 5, 2013
- State: Michigan
Paul Rusten
Age 91 – WW II Photographer, independent film-maker, teacher, designer.
Born Paul Daniel Rusten in 1922 in Muskegon Michigan to the Rev. A.M. Rusten and his wife Olga, Paul grew up and graduated from high school in Elroy, Wisconsin. He left the University of Wisconsin in 1942 to enlist in WW II as an Air Force Photographer and lab chief in the North Africa and Italian Campaigns.
In 1947 Paul married his high school classmate Mary Jane Forbes. They raised three sons, Jeffrey Stuart Rusten, Scott Forbes Rusten and Brendt David Rusten in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Jane, daughter-in-law Laurie, sister Muriel Waarvik, and brother Arnold. He leaves sisters Rena Anderson and Doris Wood, his three sons, daughters-in-law Caroline, Myra and Patty, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Following WW II Paul wrote and produced educational and business motion pictures for 25 years with his own company, Rusten Film Associates, after having also founded ELC Films, Continental Films and Heritage Productions. His films have been recognized by The New York Times Honor Roll, the Begian, San Francisco American International Film Festivals and the American Psychiatric Association.
Upon retirement, Rusten designed and taught film-making workshops for 20 years at Augsburg and Macalester Colleges. In his second retirement he designed and built decks and gazebos.
He served as an intergenerational volunteer for 15 years at Seward Montessori.
He was a member of Plymouth Congregational Church and Torske Klubben.