George "Rusty" R. Addleman, 82, of Oberlin, was born on November 12,
1938, to Ted and Neva (Russell) Addleman at Benton Memorial Hospital,
Oberlin KS. He passed July 12, 2021 at Decatur Health Systems, Oberlin
KS. Rusty attended Oberlin Grade School and graduated from Decatur
Community High School in 1956.
He was a member of the Oberlin undefeated football team winning the
Northwest Kansas League Title in 1955 against Norton KS. He, as well as
other team winners, received post-season honors. He was named to The
Wichita Eagle’s All State Team and The Eagle All Western Division Team,
and nominated by area coaches to the Northwest Kansas All League Team.
He attended College of Emporia, Emporia, KS, a small Presbyterian
school, where his father and siblings had attended. He received a
bachelor’s degree in business administration and sciences. While at C.
of E., he played on the football team, and helped lead the “Presbies” to
the 1959 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football championship.
He was named to the First Team of the National Association of
Intercollegiate Athletics All-American Football team and Williamson
National Football Rating System. In the Mineral Water Bowl which
followed, he scored two of the three touch downs, and kicked all three
extra points to lead C. of E. to a 21-20 victory over Austin College of
Texas. He completed his football season with 3,729 rushing yards and a
new school record of 138 points in a single season. He was invited to
play in the Little All-American vs. Big All-American bowl game in
Tucson, AZ. He also played on the District 10 championship baseball
team winning the regional tournament in 1960 for C. of E. While at C.
of E., he earned 17 varsity letters in five sports: football, track,
baseball, basketball and golf.
He signed a professional contract with the Green Bay Packers after
the 1960 draft. During the summer he survived a two-week training camp
and made the final cut before being released from the team. At that
time, well-known players on the team were Paul Horning, Jim Taylor, and
Bart Starr. His coach was the infamous Vince Lombardi who was just
beginning his coaching career with the Green Bay Packers. Rusty felt
honored to be coached by him.
He received a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy in 1963 from the
University of Kansas. That fall he was commissioned as a second
lieutenant in the Air Force Medical Service Corps. He attended
Officer’s Training School in Montgomery AL.
In January of 1964, his first AF tour was Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage
AK as a business officer of a 200-bed hospital for 3 ½ years. In March,
1964, the Alaskan Earthquake occurred.
In the fall of 1967, Rusty attended the University of Minnesota
(Minneapolis) and received a Master of Hospital Administration degree
through the Air Force. He did his internship at Travis AFB, CA. and
graduated in1969.
The following four years he was in hospital administration at ENT AFB, Colorado Springs, Lowry AFB, CO; and Osan AFB, Korea.
In 1972, he resigned from Air Force with the rank of captain. He
accepted an administrative position in the HURA program in Nashville, TN
until 1976.
At that time, he returned to Oberlin to administer a Health
Underserved Rural Areas Grant to help small towns survive, recruit
doctors, and improve the health care in rural communities. During this
time, he purchased the drug store from his dad and hired a pharmacist,
and later became a full-time pharmacist in 1990 retiring in 2009. The
Addleman Drug Store was a family business for 103 years.
Four generations of Addleman men have served Decatur County for the
last 142 years. (Nathan, Dott, Ted, and George (Rusty)—from county
clerk to merchant to two generations of pharmacists. Rusty continued
the tradition of “service first” to the community. The Oberlin
community has always had a special place in his heart and he wanted it
to be progressive. He contributed where needed on numerous boards,
committees, such as: hospital board, city council, Rotary, Chamber of
Commerce, golf course, Church Council, American Legion, and fund raising
for various organizations, etc. He made sure that Oberlin had fireworks
for 4th of July. He especially had a big heart for children and
babies.
Rusty’s greatest joy was his family although golf, K-U Jayhawks and
watching sports were competitive. He was proud of his children and
grandchildren. PaPa was always their number one supporter and enjoyed
watching all of their activities. His absence will leave a vast void.
Rusty and Sharon Pollnow were married on August 11, 1963, in
Oberlin, KS. To this union three children were born: Michelle Renee’
Rush; Shannon Ree’ Addleman and Chad Theodore Addleman.
Rusty is survived by his wife, Sharon Addleman, three children,
Michelle (Kevin) Rush, Shannon Addleman, and Chad (Noel) Addleman and
six grandchildren, Gavin and Gannon Rush, Brynna and Bryant
Addleman-Gillund, Kate and Jack Addleman, sister, Ruth Ingold, Lenexa KS
as well as extended family and friends. He is predeceased by his
parents, brother, Alan, and brother-in-law, Robert Ingold.
Click HERE for service details.