Susan Opal Kushman

Susan Opal Kushman, 76, of Fort Collins, passed away August 4, 2024 at Collinwood Assisted Living Facility Memory Care. Susan was born December 10, 1947 to Calvin and Opal Kushman and raised in South Dakota. She graduated from high school in Rapid City in 1965. While at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, she met and married Clair Glassing, after which they lived in several towns in South Dakota and Minnesota. They relocated their young family to Fort Collins in 1974. The couple later divorced. Susan resided in Fort Collins for 50 years.

After many years staying at home, Susan began work at Poudre High School as a secretary in the special education department. She also worked at the Mole Hole in the mall where she became a master gift wrapper. She returned to finish college in her early 40’s and earned a Bachelor's Degree from Colorado State University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in her early 50’s. She became a social studies and special education teacher in Poudre R-1 and retired from Webber Middle School. She was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church and spent many summers at Village Green Pool. She enjoyed boating, camping, cards and board games, bowling, watching sports, music, knitting blankets for her grandchildren, swimming and sunbathing at Parkwood Pool, and attending car races. Her son Andrew fulfilled her bucket list trip to the Daytona 500 in 2018.

Surviving are her three children Angela (Gale) Nelson of Ault, Julie Glassing of Fort Collins, and Andrew (Andrea) Glassing of Malverne, NY; her sister Dixie Kushman of Johnstown, sister-in-law Linda Kushman of Rapid City, six nephews, and her eight grandchildren: Jaxon (Raeley) Nelson of Pace, FL, Sam Glassing of Fort Collins, James Nelson of Ault, Joe Fox of Buena Vista, Madilyn Nelson of Ault, Claire, Andrew, and Gabriel Glassing of Malverne, NY. Her first great-grandchild is expected in January, 2025 to her grandson Jaxon Nelson and his wife Raeley.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister Georgia Kushman and brother Thomas Kushman. Per her wishes, her ashes will be scattered on the banks of Sheridan Lake in South Dakota at a later date.