Miriam Kussrow

Miriam Kussrow, age 98, died peacefully on September 23, 2025, after a sudden health crisis resulted in a rapid decline. She was at home surrounded by her four children. A celebration of her life will be held at St. James Episcopal Church on November 13th, 2025, at 1:00 pm.

Born in 1927 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Clara Strassen Eickhoff and Theodore Henry Eickhoff, Miriam Kussrow graduated from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. She attended the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, and received her MN degree in 1951. In 1952, she married Van C. Kussrow, Jr., and they set up home in Valparaiso, where Van was a professor at the University.

While in Valpo, she attended Immanuel Lutheran Church, worked with the Porter County Visiting Nurse Association, and established lifelong friends. She cherished her role as wife and mother, and embraced the adventures that being married to Dr. K brought her way. From hosting generations of college students for Sunday lunch to packing up her 4 children (including a six-week-old) and moving to Madrid for a year in 1962; from living in Coventry, England, for 4 years to loading up the entire family (and the dog) to spend every summer assisting with the family business operating Camp Pinnacle in Hendersonville, North Carolina; Miriam showed her resilience.

After moving permanently to Hendersonville in 1979, Miriam embarked on what was her greatest joy and accomplishment in the nursing field. She helped establish Hospice of Henderson County (now Four Seasons) and became its first Home Care Coordinator. For 8 years, she worked selflessly and tirelessly to build a strong foundation for an outstanding organization that is now well known in North Carolina. She was also active in St. James Episcopal Church, as a choir member for 30 years and as chairman of the pastoral Ministry Commission for 12 years. She was honored to be a member of the Board of the Lane Fund for over 10 years and to have delivered Meals on Wheels for over 20 years.

In 2006, Van, her husband of 53 years, passed away. Two brothers and a sister predeceased her. She leaves behind her four beloved children: Susanne, Kathryn, Mary, and Van; her sister-in-law, Margaret Eickhoff; Sue's children, Alison, Jillian, and Eric; Kate's husband Jefferson McConnuaghey and their daughter Elizabeth, Mary's daughters, Kelly and Amanda, and Amanda's children Audrey and Theodore Norton, and Van's wife Jenn and child Emmitt, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. God gave her a merry heart and an infectious laugh; she will be greatly missed.

The family wishes to thank the hospice team at Four Seasons for their compassionate care, as well as Dr. Steven Crane and his staff, especially Connie. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Four Seasons hospice or the Blue Ridge Humane Society. Shuler Funeral Home has the honor of serving the family.