Gordon "Cork" Clyde Bushen

Mr. Gordon “Cork” Clyde Bushen, age 91 of Newaygo, stepped on shore and found it Heaven early Friday morning, February 12, 2021.  He was born on May 24, 1929 in Newaygo, Michigan to Edward & Dora (Jenkinson) Bushen.  Gordon was a US Army Veteran of the Korean War, serving from 1951-1953, which included spending a year in Tokyo, Japan.  He was married to Shirley (Anderlohr) for 29 years until they were divorced.  Together, they had 5 children, and 2 of them preceded him in death, Wayne Lee & Randy Bushen.  Gordon is survived by his 3 children:  Cindy (Rudy) Garcia, Mark (Joann) Bushen, Jane Gray; daughter-in-law, Peggy (Ron) DeYoung; 12 grandchildren & 21 great grandchildren.  He was also preceded in death by his son-in-law, David Gray.  Gordon then married Verda June (Crotser Abbott) in 1985, and she preceded him in death in 2020.  He is also survived by Verda’s children:  Holly (Ray) Bauer, Clint (Michelle) Abbott, Lori (Phil) Long; and by multiple step-grandchildren & step-great grandchildren.  He was also preceded in death by Verda’s granddaughter, Tamara Abbott; and by his brother & his wife, Gerald “Jerry” & June Bushen.  Gordon worked at Gerber Products Company for 13 years, and then became a certified welder and worked for Tri-County Construction Company for 3 ½ years, welding, building, and hanging red iron.  He started a home welding shop, built & fabricated 3 well drilling rigs, went into the well business in 1967, and used the 3rd rig he had built to make a living for 13 years.  He then bought 2 more well rigs and installed hydraulic systems on them and fabricated them with hydraulic rotary.  He always said he could fix anything but a broken heart.  Gordon also learned how to play the guitar while in the Army and used this God given talent for the rest of his life.  He played with lead guitar and sang with the Faith Gospel Team along with his daughter Cindy, and they traveled all over in the bus, singing in various churches and events across Michigan & Indiana.  They cut an album in 1972.  He was also a member of the Northwoods Brothers, where he played lead guitar and sang, and also played the 5 string banjo, the mandolin, & the harmonica at many churches and events in West Michigan.  He had attended Freedom Bible Fellowship for the past several years, and he had previously been an active member of Volney Bible Church.   Gordon started showing signs of dementia in 2013-2014, and fought this for many years.  In 2019, he moved in with Mark & Joann for 7 months, until they found Anna at the Cottages on Martin Lake.  Anna and her staff did an amazing job taking care of and working with Gordon for 16 months, giving him the special care he needed.  Mark & Joann visited him a day after Christmas and played some music with him.  He said then that he was ready to go Home to be with his Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.  In early January he started having spells that weakened him with each one, and just before a visit with Dr. Bont, he was so weak that he couldn’t get up, so the family then called on Hospice of Michigan on January 29th, and they immediately sprung into action, bringing in nurses Dawn & Theresa, along with many aids to help with his constant care.  They were also wonderful for the family, and informed them often, until early Friday morning, February 12, 2021 he went into the arms of Jesus with family around him.  There will be a Private Memorial Service for his family on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at Freedom Bible Fellowship with his son, Pastor Mark Bushen, officiating.  A Northwoods Brothers Memorial Concert will also take place at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at The Shack outdoor pavilion. There will be lots of testimonies and singing, and a hog roast will follow at 2:00 P.M. You are all invited, so please save the date.  All memorial contributions can go to Anna Hunt’s new memory care unit at the Cottages at Martin Lake, or to Hospice of Michigan – Newaygo County.  You can sign the online guest book at www.kroeze-wolffis.com.  Arrangements are by Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home, Inc. of Fremont.               

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