MADISON (WKOW) — Darren Bush, the man behind Rutabaga Paddlesports, is closing his well-known Madison business to focus on a new chapter in his life. After 35 years, he is shifting his attention from selling canoes and kayaks to serving as a hospice chaplain.

"I've always believed that you should stay at your job until you've learned everything you need to learn, and then it's time to move on," Bush said.

Bush began his journey with Rutabaga Paddlesports in 1990 and became the sole owner, with his wife, in 2007. The store, a staple in the Madison-area watersports community, will soon close for good.

"I'm gonna go on my own terms," Bush said.

As the business grew, so did the community's affection for it. Many expressed disappointment on social media about his decision not to sell the bu

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