Ida Levina Kuss, 91

Ida Levina Kuss, widow of River Falls University sport great and notable biology teacher, coach, athletic director in the West Bend School District, Carl Kuss, went into the loving arms of her Lord on March 4, 2009.

She was born in Denver, Colo. on July 31, 1917, daughter of George and Mary Frank.

She was raised in River Falls where she attended grade school and high school. Ida was one of four children in her immediate family and she helped her parents raise four more cousins who came to live with the family.

She attended River Falls University for a year and then went onto business school in Minneapolis. After that, she held bookkeeping jobs in River Falls. 

Ida married Carl M. Kuss in August 1944 during the war while Carl was on leave in San Francisco. After their marriage they settled in West Bend, Wisconsin where Carl accepted a biology teaching position.  She attended the Sherwood School of Music in Chicago and upon graduation started teaching piano in West Bend.

Music was at the core of what was our mother. Teaching piano was her delight and having former students keep in touch with her meant so much.  She sparkled along with her students at all those recitals. She helped start the piano festivals with the other piano teachers in town.

Trinity Lutheran Church was her home where she played the organ and piano and directed the choirs for over 45 years praising God with her gift of music. She was very involved with ladies groups, mission work and tying quilts. Ida’'s dearest friendships were made through fellowship at church. She played the viola in the community orchestra and whole heartedly supported her husband’s work in the community.

Ida was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary; two brothers, Wood and William; one sister, Irene; and her husband, Carl.

She is survived by her three children, Terry (Peggy) Kuss of West Bend; Michael (Kathy) Kuss of Friendship; and Karla (Mike) West of Hamilton, Mont.; and seven grandchildren.

The family hopes that remembering Ida you pass along a kindness  – especially to those who are in the later years of life and may need a hug, hello or smile today.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, West Bend, on April 18, 2009 at 2 p.m. followed by burial at the Washington County Cemetery.

Memorials can be graciously sent to Naomi Circle c/o Trinity Lutheran Church, 140 N. 7th Ave., West Bend, WI 53095 or the West Bend Baseball Association (WBBA) c/o Bob Meyer, 5517 W. Overlook Circle, West Bend, WI  53095.