Jens Eric Bush

JENS ERIC BUSH

Eric was born in Rupert, Idaho 01/25/1941, Died 1/28/2025

Eric had 2 brother's, Jan and Jon, both deceased and a sister, Marcella, deceased.

Eric's Parents were John and Rosa (Leoni) Bush.

Rosa's Family, the Leoni's, were Italian and came to "Little Italy", Rosston District, Cassia County, below the Minidoka Dam to Farm in 1907. There were 3 girl's and 3 boys.

John Bush was adopted by Clarence and Amelia Bush (birth name was Johnson from Weiser, Id), Clarence Bush built the "Bush Building" on the south side of the square in Rupert. He came to Rupert in 1910. In 1942 the "Jack" Bush Family moved to Sacramento, Ca. Where He ended up working for the Air Force at McCellan AFB. In 1956 the Bush's moved to Mobile, Al., except for Jan who was at the Coast Guard Academy, to work at Brookley AFB. John was the head of civilian maintenance at the base and lived in Montgomery, Al. During the "Selma to Montgomery" Civil Rights march. What an experience, troops rolling into town, all the killing, hate and division being created for a people who just wanted an equal chance in life. It makes me think of Idaho today with the far right working on that kind of behavior.

He drove downtown one night and the whole capitol grounds area was surrounded by a wall of Alabama Highway Patrol cars, 100's of them.

The Bush children were fortunate while in California to be able to come back to Idaho to spend the summers with aunt's and uncle's.

He stayed with Ermete and Anna (Leoni) Dalsoglio. As they were retired, he only had to get eggs everyday whereas his older Brother's did real Farm chores. My sister, younger, stayed with Bruno "Banjo" and Lea Leoni, He was Fire Chief, and they lived in the old Fire Station across from the Water Tower in Rupert, a city girl. He always thought of Idaho as his home.

Eric moved back to Sacramento in 1967 and has come back to Idaho to visit relatives ever since, staying with his aunt Annie and later with uncle "Cas" and Shirley Leoni.

He married Jackie Oros in 1978, Jackie had 2 wonderful son's Kenneth (Sacramento, Ca.) and Brian Oros (Kimberly, Id.) and they later were blessed with Matthew Bush (Beaverton, Or.). They are blessed with 10 Grandchildren. Brian Jr., Mary Alice, Alyssa, Tyler, Erica, Ella from California and Erik, Andrew, Zackery and Ravyn from Oregon.

Eric and Jackie later moved to Kimberly, Id, in 2019 after much encouragement from his aunt Shirley. and joined the Minidoka Historical Society and helped with Museum events. They also volunteered at the Minidoka County Fair in the Antique building thanks to Gary Schorzman and enjoyed making display's to enter. Eric's hobby was Ribbon collecting, the type worn by the Military and has over 10,000 in his collection.

He created 2 web sites, 1 for ribbons (http://www.frontiernet.net/~ericbush Which was made to help ID ribbons as well as to share Knowledge about them mainly through the use of charts. He also made one for Rosettes, they symbolize a Medal or Organization award (http://www.frontiernet.net/%7Ejackiebush/Rosette.html)

He was a long-time member of the Organization, Orders and Medals Society of America.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jens Eric Bush, please visit our floral store.