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Joseph Felton Rust ~ Nov. 6, 1956 - Feb. 7, 2005
The world has lost a great visionary with a big heart with the recent passing of Joe Rust. A friend and inspiration to many, Joe brought many smiles and good feelings through his sincere approach to music, and was much admired in the numismatic field for the mechanical genius he was.
Born in Germany, he grew up in the Colorado Springs area where he learned to be a machinist at a local trade college. He also provided rock solid bass lines and heart felt vocals to several rock and blues bands including Phantom, Monty Montana Band, and the Lazy Alien Blues Band.
He later traveled on the Renaissance Festival circuit selling ceramics and building booths for a Colorado based pottery. In 1989, he met mandolinist-engraver Ron Landis through a casual jam session. Joe and Ron later teamed up as a musical duo called "The Doe Brothers" and moved to Eureka Springs, Arkansas with the dream of building a museum of coin making technology called the Gallery Mint Museum. Together with Ron Landis and bassist Chuck Onofrio, he has played many benefit concerts, weddings and music venues in the Eureka Springs area and has opened for many big name performers over the many years he played.
Joe Rust had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and could build or fix just about anything. He shared his many skills with any and all who asked, and did so on an ongoing basis. His last project was a campground and RV park he had built over the past year which he planned to open this spring.
His accomplishments are too numerous to mention, but Joe was a legend amongst coin collectors for the fine work he did building and restoring antique style minting equipment, most notably the recent restoration of the first U.S. steam powered coining press that was put into operation in 1836 at the Philadelphia Mint. He has also received the President's Award from the American Numismatic Association for his outstanding achievements.
Joe loved his family dearly and organized an annual family reunion and jam session he dubbed the "Lobster Fest". Joe is survived by his mother, Mary Jane Rust, father, Carl Rust, daughter, Jennifer Alexander, and brothers Carl, Mike, Paul and Marty as well as his sister, Annie Crandall.
Joe Rust was the victim of severe depression that plagued his life off and on for many years. His final wish was that his dream of building the mint museum be brought to fruition. His body was cremated, and some of his ashes will be spread on the land he loved so well.
Farewell, friend. - Ron Landis
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