Kusum Krishna Veerkar, 91 of Windfall died in the early morning hours of Saturday, February 19, 2022 at home. She was born in Umbergaon Maharashtra, India on May 7, 1930. Her father was K.B. Veerkar and mother Sushila Veerkar.

Kusum was a hard worker, providing her expertise in the medical field being very active with mental health issues. Over the years she was involved in many business adventures with her friend Dianne Spooner.

Kusum was a well-educated person.  In 1953 she became a Registered Professional Nurse; 1957 she received a Post-Graduate Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing; 1961 Post-Graduate Diploma, Teaching and Administration – College of Nursing – New Delhi, India; and in 1976 she received her BA from Northeastern University, Chicago and Mental Health Generalist with specialization in biofeedback and hypnosis.

She continued her education and in 1978 she earned a Master of Arts in Public Affairs with area of concentration in Mental Health and Human Services Administration from Northern Illinois University and then in 1983 Doctorate in Health and Human Services/Hospital  Administration, Columbia Pacific University, California.

Kusum was responsible for the planning, implementation and management of in-patient and out-patient psychiatric services which included developing objectives and standards, therapeutic programs and administering a highly structured milieu; coordinating and supervising the multiple disciplines comprising the psychiatric services.  In addition, implementation of intensive treatment units and crisis intervention services on a 24-hour basis.

Kusum was known as a “Five Star General” in the way that she ran her services and it was “her way or the highway”.  She had a special way with her patients and they improved under her guidance. The teenagers loved Kusum and would wait for her arrival on the units.

In 1985-1997, Kusum opened and ran her own Home Health Professionals, Inc business which provided quality care to those in need of home care.  In addition, she also provided Private Duty and a Day Care for the elderly. Sometimes she would even come and cook the meals for the elderly which they loved.  She was a great cook.

Kusum was very blessed to have friends Evelyn Dianne Spooner and Judy Northington in her life.

K’s Boutique Fine Gifts and Accessories was opened from 1997 to 2017 which was also highly successful as Kusum was gifted in selecting beautiful items that customers readily purchased.

Ruben Realty, Inc was another successful venture that Kusum started in 2003 and ran until 2017. It was always a priority that clients got good service. Besides the above businesses, Kusum also had a private biofeedback, counseling and hypnosis practice which many people benefited from. She had a special gift in communicating and assisting in resolving problems.

When not working, Kusum loved photography and traveled all over the world taking photos, movies and slides and had many cameras and equipment.  One of anything was never enough.  Kusum loved cars and she had four Mercedes Benz, a Cadillac, a Dodge Stealth,, a Corvette, a Delta royal 88, red Pontiac Firebird, etc.  She also loved motorcycles and rode one to work when weather permitted.

Kusum loved salt water fish and corals and had 13 tanks: (1) 50 gal, (5) 100 gal, (4) 150gal, (2) 200gal, (1) 250 gal.  Salt water fish and corals are not easy to care for but she became an expert at it.  In addition, Kusum had dogs and many parakeets.  For relaxation, Kusum would play tennis and loved music. She played the harmonica and sometimes the piano.

Kusum was born into a Hindu family but was converted to Christianity in 1982 and was baptized in 2006 at age 76.  She loved to walk and would witness to people that she would meet in the neighborhood and sing “Amazing Grace” to them. When she went shopping, she would also sing “Amazing Grace” to customers who were shopping and they were touched by her singing. She was truly a free spirit.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22 at Young-Nichols Funeral Home, Richard Scheiman will officiate. Burial will follow at Elwood Cemetery.  Friends are invited to gather from 1:00 p.m. Tuesday until service time at the funeral home.