Joanne M. Cushman

Joanne Marie (Fay) Cushman passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on June 16, 2024, at age 91. She was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 8, 1932, to Ruth (nee Anderson) and Harry B. Fay. 

She was preceded in death by her former husband, William H. Cushman. She is survived by her daughters, Fay Cushman, Linda (John) Fearing; son, Thomas Cushman; grandchildren, Andrea (Corbin) Schmidt (nee Fearing), Jeffrey (Autumn) Fearing, Eleanor and Emma Elmquist; great-grandchildren, Hendrik, Ziggy, June, Sumner, and Linden.

 An only child, Joanne grew up in the Como Park neighborhood attending Chelsea Heights Elementary and Murray High School. She went to the University of Minnesota, the first of her family to go to college, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics Education. She then taught school in Anoka and later Thief River Falls. She herself was an excellent cook and seamstress.

After meeting at the U of M, Joanne and Bill Cushman married in 1955. Shortly thereafter Bill was drafted and stationed on Staten Island, New York and Joanne began working in recipe development and food photography at the Borden Company, in Manhattan. After Bill left the army, they moved to northern Minnesota where he worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and they started their family. In 1961 they settled in Roseville.

Once all of her children were in school Joanne began working as an administrative assistant and eventually partnered with husband Bill as they began a real estate appraisal business.

While raising her three young children Joanne also found time to be involved in her community. Pursuing her commitment to quality public education, she became president of Lexington Elementary School PTA, and subsequently ran for and served three terms on the Roseville Area District 623 School Board. 

She was very proud that Title IX was implemented during her tenure.

She then served two terms on the Roseville City Council and was instrumental in obtaining state funding for the John Rose Oval. She was passionate about good governance, informed decision-making, and proudly served as a leader in her community.

Joanne was a life-long member of Como Park Lutheran Church. She remained friends with her Chelsea Heights and Murray classmates throughout their lives. She was a member of the Gamma Omicron Beta Sorority at the U of M and remained life-long friends with several of those alums as well.

Joanne was an avid sports fan. She spent countless hours on the ice and in the concession stand at Lake Como in support of her family’s involvement in local speedskating. She rarely missed her grandchildren’s many and various sporting events. She always had the Twins game on and watched a lot of college football. Joanne enjoyed reminding us that she was the Blue Ribbon Reserve Champion in the U of M 1954 Kitchi Geshig Sheep Showmanship contest, “a city-slicker showing the farm girls how it was done” she would say. 

Joanne lived with rheumatoid arthritis throughout her adult life. She was an intelligent, strong and fiercely determined person. Yet she loved going out for lunch and getting her afternoon coffee with ‘a little treat’. She kept her family very close. Her loyal and loving family will miss her greatly.

Funeral Service 11 AM Tuesday, June 25 at COMO PARK LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1376 Hoyt Ave W, St. Paul. Visitation from 10 – 11 AM at the church. Interment Roselawn Cemetery.