Rusty Chism

ST. JOSEPH – Rusty Chism, 50, of St. Joseph passed away at 9:11 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 22, 2015) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 9:11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Vineyard Church, 1500 N. Lincoln Ave., Urbana, with Pastor Dave Ashby officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church with the Fire Department Walk-through at 7 p.m.

Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements.

Rusty was born Jan. 1, 1965, in Champaign, the son of Forrest and Nancy Swan Chism. He married Prease Winkler on Oct. 5, 1991, in St. Joseph. She survives.

He is also survived by his son, Addison, and daughter, Aidynn, at home; his parents of St. Joseph; brothers, Brad Chism of Fishers, Ind., and Scotty Chism of St. Joseph; parents-in-law, Darrell and Cheet Winkler of Fisher; sister-in-law, Zachera (Joseph) Wier of Gibson City; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents.

Rusty was a division chief with the Urbana Fire Department and also served as the chief of the St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Protection District. He previously worked as a paramedic and a flight medic for Carle.

Rusty enjoyed four-wheeling, especially with his son. He enjoyed spending lots of time with his children.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Protection District or to NCI Thymic Cancer Research, ATTN: Arlene Berman, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 10, Room 12N226, Bethesda, MD 20892. Checks should be made out to NCI/Thymic Cancer Research.