DES MOINES, Iowa — Spencer Rush received a lot of love at the Iowa State Fair this past summer when his family hid rubber ducks around the fairgrounds and asked people to post their pictures with them on Facebook.

It was a way to honor and remember the 22-year-old who died in a motorcycle accident earlier this year. As his family found out, the tribute didn’t end at the State Fair.

“See, he’s just going everywhere,” Amanda McGregor, Spencer’s sister, said as she scrolled on Facebook.

Posts on the Spencer Rush at the Iowa State Fair Facebook page keep popping up. 

“This one is in Sweden,” said McGregor.

Because people are still taking pictures with rubber ducks.

“He made his way to London,” McGregor said.

And remembering Spencer Rush around the world.

“I did not expect it to blow up like this. I really didn’t,” McGregor said

His sister and mom started the effort at the Iowa State Fair, one of Spencer’s favorite summertime spots. When people found a duck, they’d take a picture with it and post it to the Facebook page.

“It was really nice. I loved seeing all the photos,” McGregor said, “but at the same time it made me a little sad just because Spencer should have been there. And I just know that he would’ve loved this. He loved the fair and he just would’ve loved everyone trying to celebrate him.”

It’s a celebration of life that keeps growing. Because everywhere the ducks go, his family knows Spencer is there too.

“I know he’s up there looking down and just loving every minute of it,” Bettyjo Rush, Spencer’s mom, said. “At 22, before he passed, he’s touched so many people’s lives, and he’s touched so many more now. It’s just crazy to me.”

It’s a way for them to remember their son and brother.

“When he was little, he always wanted to go to South Dakota to see ‘the big heads,’” McGregor recalled. “We never got to go so it was really heartwarming to see that one.”

As well as grieving a life lost too soon.

“It’s such a great feeling seeing all the photos but then at the same time it just hurts knowing that he could’ve been the one traveling to Australia or he could’ve been the one going to South Dakota,” McGregor said.

As they miss him this holiday season, there’s comfort in knowing with every picture posted with a rubber duck: Spencer’s memory lives on.

“We’re seeing where he travels, and he’s going everywhere,” mom Bettyjo said. “It’s awesome.”

“I do feel like this is just going to continue on,” McGregor said.

The family plans to hide more ducks at the State Fair next summer as well.