He was born Nov. 30, 1934, in Iron Mountain. He graduated from Iron Mountain High School.

Cussy was a well-known local athlete and ski jumper. His first love was ski jumping and throughout his youth he excelled locally and nationally.

He was the first Kiwanis Ski Club jumper to make an Olympic team, competing in the 1956 Olympics in Cortina, Italy and the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley, Calif. Additionally, he competed in the 1958 U.S. World Ski Jumping Championship in Lahti, Finland.

His love and support of ski jumping continued after his retirement from competition. Cussy was a USA Central Junior Ski Jumping coach from 1969-1976 and Kiwanis Junior Ski Club coordinator. He was inducted in the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, and American Ski Hall of Fame in 2011.

He also loved baseball and fast pitch softball which he played for many years. After being a member of two U.P. Softball Championship teams, Cussy after playing ball continued his interest in the sport umpiring Little League, Babe Ruth, American Legion and Wishigan baseball.

Cussy was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. He was a life member of the Iron Mountain Elks Lodge, Sagola Township Sportsman’s Club and a member of the Eastern Dickinson County Sportsman’s Club. He enjoyed golf and was a member of Oak Crest Golf Club and Pine Grove Country Club where he achieved two hole in ones in consecutive years.

Cussy loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. He was a renowned trout fisherman, he was known as the Legend of the Fence River. Bocce was also a sport that was dear to his heart; he greatly enjoyed playing with his son Allan on Tuesday night league along with participating in numerous tournaments together. He also found time to play poker with his buddies twice a week.

He married the love of his life and partner of 58 years, Charlene Wedin, on June 15,1957. Together they raised their family in Iron Mountain. Cussy worked for the Iron Mountain Fire Department for 30 years and retired as fire chief in 1990.

Cussy’s political side showed when he served as a member of the City Council of Iron Mountain and also held the position of the Dickinson County Drain Commissioner.

Cussy was preceded in death by his parents, George and Jean (Manginen) Rahoi, and his brother, Eugene.

He is survived by his loving wife, Charlene; his three children, Allan (Karen) Rahoi of Upper Pine Creek, Robert (Ann) Rahoi of Duncansville, Pa, and Linda (Kevin) Baudhuin of Glenview, Ill. In addition, he had a very special place in his heart for his seven grandchildren that he took pride in, Erika, David, Whitney, Patrick, Jack, Jennifer and Jessica. Other members are his brothers-in law, Robert “Butch” (Beth) Wedin of Kingsford and Jack (Kaye) Wedin of Breitung Township; several nieces and nephews including his day-to-day companion Daisy.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain.

The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the church. Rev. Robert Gordon will officiate.

Burial will be in Iron Mountain Cemetery Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Richard “Cussy” Rahoi online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.