Rustin Daniel Nesse

Rustin Daniel Nesse

January 21, 1975 – July 10, 2026

Rustin "Rust" Daniel Nesse died July 10, 2026, at his home in Tacoma, Washington. He was 51.

Rust was born January 21, 1975, in Tacoma, the eldest child of Philip and Marilyn (Bader) Nesse.

He spent much of his youth in Minnesota and remained a lifelong fan of the Minnesota teams, cheering for the Vikings, the Twins, the Timberwolves, the North Stars and later the Wild, and the Lynx. He stayed loyal to them through many losing seasons, despite living in the Pacific Northwest for his entire adult life.

Rust studied software engineering at the Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls. He worked as a software engineer for nearly thirty years, from early mobile development on Palm handheld computers to systems for banks, health insurers, and the State of Washington, where he was working at the time of his death. He built systems that people relied on every day, including services that helped process pharmacy claims and dental care for veterans. He led development teams, trained junior engineers, and took pride in his work. He lived most of his adult life in Portland, Oregon, a city he loved for its character and its politics. He spent his final years in Tacoma, the city where he was born, with his dogs Mika, Zara, and little Rusty.

Rust was intelligent and held firm to his convictions. He was a progressive all his life, and he believed the systems people live under should actually work for them, regardless of race, sex, or class. He read widely, argued often, and did not soften his views to make them easier to hear. He had the dry sense of humor of a man of Norwegian descent.

He is survived by his mother, Marilyn; his siblings Glen, Kristin, Laura, and Leif; his nephew Kain; his great-niece Eliza, born ten days after his passing; his dogs Mika and Zara; and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, Philip, and little Rusty, both in December 2025.