Jerzy Rusak

Jerzy Rusak, 65 of Houston, Texas passed away Friday January 20th, 2023. He was born April 16th, 1957 in Wałbrzych, Poland to Henryk Rusak and Janina Czyz. His father however had a short life and therefore he considered his step father Bogdan Luklinski his dad. Jerzy is survived by his wife of 35 years Lindsay Hibbard-Rusak; his daughter Marguerite (Maggie) Rusak her husband Mariano Vasquez and his grandson Vincent. His adopted son Douglas Robbins. His Sister Anna Stocka her husband Tadeusz and their daughter who was also his goddaughter Magda who all still live in his home town in Poland. Jerzy grew up in a small town in Poland with his mom, step-dad, and older sister. As a boy he was very smart but quite mischievous and liked to reminisce about his mother having to chase him around to keep him in line. He also spoke of having to walk to school in great depths of snow and actually meant it. He received an Engineering Bachelor’s in Coal mining. As a young man he would gather up his backpack and go explore other cities in Poland with his friends, leaving his mother worried sick but creating many memories. He had zero interest in fighting for a communist regime he didn’t believe in, so when the time came he and his friend snuck out of Poland in the back of a chemical truck going to West Germany to avoid the draft (but also to attend a Pink Floyd concert). They were welcomed and immediately sought asylum. He lived in Germany for 2 years working at a local bar, a winery, and other odd jobs. Germany finally decided their refugee status was up and they would have to find another country to live in. They all decided they wanted to go to Australia together, but at the time Australia was only accepting families, so they chose the next best place. The land of dreams. In 1982 him and his friends boarded a United flight and landed in the Big Apple, New York City. They would wait there for their apartment to be ready in Houston. Caritas gave them all an apartment to share. In New York, he lived out of his car. He got a job at a car wash in a rich neighborhood and was making great tips which is eventually where he ended up living as well. He always liked to say as a young man that he didn’t realize he should have saved that money, but he doesn’t regret it at all. He would work most of the day and then meet his friends at their local pub in the evenings. He loved a good party and a great beer. At some point he and several friends moved to Chicago, which was where most Polish immigrants ended up, but he didn’t like it there because it reminded him of the country he had escaped. Eventually he was on a long road trip with friends coming to Houston. He lived in an apartment with a friend, and worked many different jobs. He was a hard worker his whole life. He spent a few years working for a Metal Refinishing company and ended up losing around 40 percent of his sense of smell. At some point he started working as a security guard and decided that was the job for him. He spent the rest of his life - about 15 years - working as a security guard. He worked mostly the evening or the night shift. He loved “not having a boss over his head” and the silence of the buildings when everyone left for the evenings. When he came to Houston, it wasn’t long before he met his wife Lindsay. He said he knew from the moment he meet her that he was going to marry her. Next door to the apartment where his friend lived was there neighbor Lindsay who later became his wife. He finally asked her out and the rest was history. They spent 37 long years together, with 35 of them being married. While they were dating at some point they moved to Los Angeles together. Lindsay was quite tired of the earthquakes and told Jerzy she wanted to go back home to Houston. Walking through Echo park he picked a tiny pink flower off of a bush and gave it to her. She said her father had bought her a ticket to return home. She placed the flower in his hand and said if you really love me you will return to Houston and find me and have that flower with you and if you don’t return with the flower I’m not marrying you. He returned to Houston as quickly as he could and wasted no time asking for her hand in marriage with the flower in hand. They were married by a Lutheran minister in the principal’s office of Lindsay’s old high school. He was born and raised Catholic but fell away from the church. During his marriage to Lindsay he spoke about how he was the Catholic but he showed her the faith so she could bring him back to it. He was seen at St. John Vianney Catholic Church on Sunday’s at the 11 am mass with his family, but if you would have given him the choice he would have chosen the 8 am mass. He said he liked to start his day with church and then have the rest of the day to relax before another work week started. His greatest joy in life was his daughter Maggie. He knew from the beginning that he wanted a baby girl and he got one. She had him wrapped around her finger and her heart. He was a great man that would give you his last dollar, but an even greater father. During the long nights of having a baby, he would take her for rides around the block listing to Mike Oldfield in the car to help her fall asleep. Though he was never a rich man, he never let his baby girl feel poor. Many a weekend they spent together snuggled on the couch watching a Bond-athon (James Bond marathon). Jerzy loved many things. He was an avid movie watcher and always had a new TV show he could tell you all about. He had an obsession with Golf, Tennis, and Soccer (Fútboll) he never missed a game. His greatest passion however was his love for Music. He was always trying to learn something new whether it be a new instrument entirely or a new song on his guitar, and later in life his piano which he taught himself to play. He could pick something up and learn it in a matter of moments. At many a party hosted at his house or the local pub (Hops House) he and Lindsay went to, he would break out his guitar and play. He love his little phone games. One of his favorites was Chess. As a child, he learned how to play and never lost his passion for the game, saying you always had to think 5 moves ahead. He said his greatest rival was his brother-in-law in Poland and he didn’t like to admit that he lost many games to him. There are so many other amazing stories and events to tell of Jerzy, but not enough time and space to fill the pages. He was an amazing person no doubt, but most of all he was a Friend, a Father, and a Husband. He will be missed greatly. His daughter would love to share the many stories of him, please just ask. The Rusak family will be present to receive friends Tuesday, January 24, 2023 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM with the Holy Rosary being recited at 7:00 PM at Dettling Funeral Home, 14094 Memorial Drive, Houston, Tx 77079. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday January 25, 2023 at 10:30 AM at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to a local children’s music charity where the music can live on in memory of Jerzy (Jurek) Rusak.

Jerzy Rusak

April 16, 1957 - January 20, 2023