Peter Frederick Rusch

Peter F. Rusch, age 84, of Fitchburg, passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at his home. He was born on September 22, 1941, in Eau Claire, Wis., the son of Harold and Pauline (Zielsdorf) Rusch. In 1950, the family moved to Madison where he attended Lapham Elementary School and graduated from Madison East High School in 1959. He played cornet in both junior and senior high schools, and was a member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps in 1959.

In 1965, Pete graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in Civil Engineering. On July 23, 1966, he married Linda Rosson-Rusch in Prairie du Chien, Wis. Together, they raised their two sons, Greg and Tim.

Pete’s career in traffic engineering began when he worked for the Milwaukee Expressway Commission from 1965 - 1967. He then worked for the Wisconsin State Highway Commission, which later became the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, from 1967 until his retirement in 2002. After that he worked with the Federal Highway Administration’s Safety and Design Technical Services Team until 2007. Over the years, Pete was a member of numerous committees related to traffic safety including the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (1988-2002), the AASHTO Standing Committee on Highway Traffic Safety, the AASHTO Sub-Committee on Traffic Engineering and the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. He was also a panel member on several National Cooperative Highway Research Program projects including the Landmark AASHTO Strategic Highway Safety Plan. He reviewed the National Institute of Health document on the 10 Year History of Older Drivers and Pedestrians in the Highway Environment, was a member of and President of the Wisconsin Section of the Institute of Traffic Engineers, a member of and President of the Fitchburg Jaycees in 1976 and a member of the City of Fitchburg, Wis., Board of Public Works.

Pete enjoyed golfing, basketball, fast pitch softball, flower gardening, woodworking, restoring antique lamps, and fishing and hunting. He looked forward to monthly lunches with a small group of his classmates from the East High School class of 1959, and to playing cards every week with his friends, Russ, Orin and Jim.

Peter is survived by his wife, Linda; sons, Greg Rusch and Tim (Jenni) Rusch; grandchildren, Liz, Greg, Nick, Devin and Jack Rusch; great-grandchildren, Lily Peacock and Treyton Rought; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Philip Rusch.

A celebration of life will be held at GUNDERSON FITCHBURG FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 2950 Chapel Valley Road, Fitchburg, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2026. A graveside service will follow at Highland Memory Gardens, 3054 County Highway BB, Cottage Grove.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Fitchburg
Funeral & Cremation Care
2950 Chapel Valley Road
(608) 442-5002