Obituary of Gene A. Kussman

Gene A. “Geno” Kussman, age 84, of Wisconsin Rapids, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, September 27, 2018. 

Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Pastor Jonathan Petzold will officiate. Burial, with military honors conducted by American Legion Post 9 of Wisconsin Rapids, of which he was a member, will take place at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.  Visitation for family and friends will take place on Monday, October 1, 2018 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and again on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the funeral service at the church. Online condolences may be expressed at www.taylorfuneralhome.net.

Gene was born on January 19, 1934 in Amherst, WI to Allen and Regina (Konopacki) Kussman.  He graduated from Amherst High School as a member of the Class of 1952.  During his high school years, Gene worked in South Dakota harvesting grain. After graduating high school, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service fighting fires in Feather Falls, CA.  When Geno returned to Wisconsin, he worked as a milkman at West Dairy in Plover.  Gene honorably served his country in the United States Army. After serving his country, he went to work for the Green Bay-Western Railroad as a brakeman.  Gene married Joy Larish in Amherst, however, the marriage ended in divorce.  He married Shirley Flaminio in 1991 and they were blessed 27 years of wonderful memories together. Geno went on to work for the United States Postal Service, as a letter carrier, for 38 years, until his retirement in May of 1999.

He was a long-time member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids, where is served in several leadership positions, including many years on the Board of Education. Geno liked to golf, fish, and hunt with his children. He and his best friend, Shirley, loved tent camping and fishing in the Upper Peninsula.  Gene was an avid fan of the Wisconsin Badgers, and was a season ticket holder for many years. He also enjoyed cheering on the Packers and Brewers.  Gene is loved and will be deeply missed.

Gene is survived by his wife, Shirley; his children: Debra (David) Spielbauer, Steve (Dawn) Kussman, Kirk (Julie) Kussman, and Kyle Kussman; step-children: Michelle (Robert) McDonald and David (Misty) Flaminio; 14 grandchildren and 14 great-children. He is further survived by his mother-in-law, Eunice Ponczoch; his brother and sister-in-law, John and Judy Kussman; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ken (Ellen) Haasl; his sisters-in-law: Shirley Kussman and Margie Kussman, and many nieces and nephews.  In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by his brothers, Richard Kussman and Willard Kussman; and his father-in-law, Edward Ponczoch.

The family would like to send a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Heartland Hospice of Stevens Point for their compassionate care given to Gene at this difficult time.