Colleen Ann Cushway's Obituary
Colleen Ann Cushway, 91, of Big Rapids, passed away peacefully on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025. Colleen was born on June 16, 1933, in Belding, Michigan, the daughter of Hugh and Hope (McIntire) Boss.
Colleen and her younger brother James “Jim” were raised in Belding, and Colleen graduated from Belding High School in 1951. She attended Central Michigan College and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Education. After graduation from Central in 1956, Colleen worked a summer job selling tickets at the Belding Theatre, prior to beginning her first teaching job in Pontiac, Michigan. That summer, Charles “Chuck” Cushway arrived in Belding, to begin his career at Gibson Refrigerator Company. They met for the first time when Colleen sold Chuck a movie ticket.
On August 3, 1957, Colleen and Chuck were married in the Belding Methodist Church and then accepted new jobs and moved to Lansing. Colleen taught Kindergarten thru 4 th grade, and another teacher taught 5 th thru 8 th grade at a 2- room country school in Holt, Michigan. In addition to their classroom responsibilities, both teachers maintained a wood stove to heat the school!
Children Kelly, Mike, and Karrie were born in Lansing, prior to a career move which took the family to Albany, New York. Another career move brought the family back to Michigan and a new home in Jackson, where David and Kevin arrived, bringing the total to 5 children. Chuck accepted a teaching job at Ferris State College in 1967, and the family moved from Jackson to Big Rapids in 1968.
Colleen resumed her teaching career as soon as the youngest of her children entered Kindergarten. During the 1970-71 school year, she served as Secretary at Eastwood AND Brookside schools “to get my foot in the door” at BRPS. In the fall of 1971, Colleen began her 25-year teaching career in Big Rapids, first at Brookside, and then Hillcrest, where she retired in 1996.
Colleen and Chuck were deeply dedicated to Christ and raised their family in the Community of Christ church, which they joined in 1960. Colleen was very involved in congregational life and taught Sunday School for many years. In 1989, she was ordained an Elder and served in that role well into her ‘70’s. Colleen was also a devoted grandmother who loved her grandchildren more than anything else and spent as much time as possible with them. She also enjoyed her quiet home and yard in the country, cooking, family gatherings, holidays, visitors, reading, watching and feeding the birds, and her devoted cat “Kitty Cat.”
Colleen is survived by her 5 children Kelly (Karen), Mike, Karrie, David (Penny), and Kevin (Tracy). Grandchildren Kelsey, Kiara, Kamryn, Matthew, Jared, Amos, Luke, and Karly, and great-grandchildren Bryce, Adrena, Ash, and Isla. Also surviving are sisters-in-law Joyce Boss and Carolyn Cushway, many nieces and nephews, and special friends Mary Mumby, Joann Baylis, Judi Sack, and Joan Ciaramitaro. Colleen was preceded in death by her parents, her brother James, a son-in-law Jim, and her husband Chuck.
Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held later in the year. The family welcomes memorial contributions to the Big Rapids Community of Christ C/O Dee Neal, 13450 Taft Rd. Big Rapids, MI 49307, or to the Hospice agency of your choice: Currie Comfort Home, Elara Caring, or Hospice of Michigan. Care and arrangements are entrusted to the Mohnke Janowicz Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Share a memory or express condolences at mohnkefuneralhome.com.
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