Cindy Joan Rishaug

In Loving Memory of Cindy Joan (Rusk) Rishaug April 11, 1958 – July 19, 2025

With deep sorrow and profound love, we announce the passing of Cindy Joan (Rusk) Rishaug- a devoted wife, nurturing mother, compassionate nurse, and cherished friend. Cindy left this world far too soon on July 19, 2025, passing peacefully at her home in Berrien Springs, Michigan, surrounded by the people and pets she loved most.

Cindy was born on April 11, 1958, in Carthage, Missouri. She later attended Broadview Academy in Illinois before eventually settling in Berrien Springs, Michigan. It was there that she met her future husband, Glen Rishaug, who was working for her father, Gary Rusk, on his farmhouse that they later called home. Cindy and Glen were married at the farmhouse on December 26, 1978.

The couple pursued nursing school together before starting a family. They waited nearly a decade before having children, choosing first to build a life grounded in love, commitment, and a shared dedication of caring for others.

Together, they raised three beautiful children- Erika (Rishaug) Hill, Jessika (Rishaug) Knuth, and Troy Rishaug and lovingly helped raise her niece, Nikki Rusk, as one of their own. Some of her greatest joy came with the arrival of her granddaughters, Hazel and Vienna Hill.

Cindy was a devoted sister to Gerrie-Ann Rusk, Penny Cowell, Judy Westfall, and Steve Rusk. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Gary and Joan (Reno) Rusk, whose legacy of love, resilience, and compassion lived on through her.

Cindy devoted nearly 40 years to the nursing profession- a true reflection of her deeply nurturing spirit. She served in surgery and on the open-heart team at Memorial Hospital, eventually becoming a charge nurse in the surgical department. Her leadership and compassion earned her the lasting respect of both colleagues and patients alike.

Cindy concluded her career in surgical pre-testing, a role she truly enjoyed and found deeply fulfilling. Her calm presence and compassionate care comforted countless patients and families in their most vulnerable moments.

She brought that same care and warmth into every corner of her life. Whether holding a loved one close, comforting a patient, or caring for her beloved dogs. Cindy lived with unmatched empathy and quiet strength. She had a gift for making everyone feel seen, safe, and valued.

Her legacy is one of love, sacrifice, and service. Cindy will be remembered for her steady hands, gentle heart, and unwavering devotion to those she cared for - at work and at home. She was a healer, a protector, and a light to all who knew her. Though she is no longer with us, her impact lives on in the lives she touched and the care she gave so freely.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 7th, 2025, at Coaches Bar and Grill in Stevensville, MI, from 4 PM to 7 PM.

Arrangements were entrusted to Allred Funeral Home in Berrien Springs.