James William Kussow

James William Kussow

1932--2017

James William Kussow of Noblesville, Indiana, died 23 November 2017 after a long struggle against prostate cancer. He was 84 years old. His spirit passed to heaven on Thanksgiving Day, accompanied by the voices of family gathered at his home for the holiday.

Born 25 December 1932 to Irvin and Lois (Gherke) Kussow in rural Kaukauna Township, Wisconsin, Jim grew up on a dairy farm, the eldest among four brothers and a youngest sister. He attended school in Wrightstown, Wisconsin, graduated in 1951, and directly enlisted in the Navy. He was stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as an airplane mechanic. Inspired by his time in the service, Jim went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Milwaukee School of Engineering and a Master of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

While an undergrad, Jim met Trudy Gieschen of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, at a social event of the Gamma Delta Lutheran student group. They married in 1960. After grad school and a brief stint at Westinghouse Electric Company, the couple moved to Granby, Connecticut, where Jim worked at Hamilton Standard Propeller Corporation of East Hartford. He had a successful career there, twice chosen for developmental project work for Boeing in Seattle, Washington.

The entrepreneurial spirit was strong in Jim, however, and in 1974 he found an opportunity in Madison, South Dakota. He purchased a small, established wholesale greenhouse business, renamed it Gro-Joy Plants, Inc., and through the next 29 years grew it to a 7-acre facility employing more than 100 people, supplying spring bedding plants, poinsettias, Easter lilies, and foliage plants to retailers throughout the region. Jim was an active member of the Bedding Plants Association. The greenhouse continues now as part of the Monticello, Minnesota-based Dan and Jerry's Greenhouses.

In 2004, Jim and Trudy retired to Noblesville, Indiana, to enjoy time with their children and grandchildren. Throughout life, Jim was a committed member of the Lutheran church. He served as congregational president twice at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison, South Dakota, along with 10 years of teaching Sunday school to middle schoolers. He faithfully joined in the Saturday morning men's Bible study for decades, both at Trinity and at Bethel Lutheran Church of Noblesville.

He is survived by his wife Trudy Kussow of Noblesville and his children Karl (Chong) Kussow of North Canton, Ohio; Matt (Ethel) Kussow of Noblesville; Ted (Cheryl) Kussow of Zionsville, Indiana; Ellen (Jeff) Lewis of Okemos, Michigan; his grandchildren Katie, Grace, Seth, Alice, Abby, Walter, Nathan, Sophie, Viktor, Frederic, Maude; and his siblings Tom (Margie) Kussow of DePere, Wisconsin; Paul Kussow of DePere; and Rachel (Steve) Daniels of Crystal, Maine. He is preceded in death by his brother Dan (Carol) Kussow of Plainfield, Illinois.

Jim's steady, faithful, supportive presence and warm smile will be missed, but we remember his legacy of leadership, adventure, and faith. A memorial service will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church with interment at the columbarium at Christ Lutheran Church, Zionsville, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Jim's honor to Bethel Lutheran Church, 20650 Cumberland Rd, Noblesville, IN 46062.