Remi Joseph Coussens Obituary (1920

Remi Joseph Coussens, 93, a resident of the Hillsboro community passed away Friday morning, June 27, 2014 at his home Rosary and Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at St Edward Catholic Church in North Plains. Family and friends are invited to attend a reception following the services held in the parish hall. Rite of Christian Burial will take place at St Edward Catholic Cemetery Remi was born on November 16, 1920 in Cornelius, OR. He was the oldest of nine children born to Benoni and Maria (VanNieuwenhuyse) Coussens. He was raised on the family farm in Cornelius and graduated from Hillsboro Union High School with the Class of 1938. He met his future wife, Rose Schallberger, through family. Rose was a dairyman's daughter and Remi a dairyman's son and both of their families had worked back and forth through the years. They soon began courting and they were married on May 22, 1946. Following their marriage they made their home on Rose's family farm were they have lived since. This past May they celebrated their 68th anniversary together. Remi was a dairy farmer all of his life. He also raised wheat clover, alfalfa and corn. He was also active with the community surrounding his farm and has served in various clubs and organizations including but not limited to; served as Board of Directors for the Tuality Healthcare foundation, served as board member of the Tuality Healthcare Scholarship Committee, served as board member of the North Plains Fifth Ave Plaza, AARP Tualatin Valley Chapter, Tualatin Valley Garden Club, Member of the Local CPO 8, Past president of the St Matthews Parents Club, active member of St Edward Catholic Church (60 years), Tuality Lands Coalition (Treasurer), Member of Knights of Columbus, Hillsboro Elks, Lifetime member of the Oregon Water Resources Assoc., Past Chairman of the Tualatin Valley Irrigation District. Throughout all of this Remi gave his ideas and time to make Hillsboro, North Plains, Washington County and the State of Oregon a better place to live and work. He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Albert, three sisters; Madeline Foelker, Margaret Lillegard and Sr. Agnes Coussens and a daughter-in-law; June Coussens. He is survived by his loving wife Rose, six children and their spouses; Joe and Karen Coussens of Portland, OR, Paul Coussens of Hillsboro, OR, Virginia and John Cross of Houston, TX, Kathy and Steve Heinrich of Cornelius, OR, Patty and Rick Dobbs of Hillsboro, OR, Theresa and Rod Williams of Corvallis, OR, a brother; Art Coussens of Hillsboro, OR, three sisters; Alice Meeuwsen of HIllsboro, OR, Sylvia Vandehey Forest Grove, OR , Anna Bickford of Hillsboro, OR. twelve grandchildren and one great grandson. The family suggest donation in Remi's name to The Sisters of St Mary of Oregon