Gary James Cusick, 72

Gary James Cusick was born Aug. 5, 1949, in Kalispell, and passed away on March 23, 2022, in Reno, Nevada.

Gary was raised in Kalispell where he became interested in flying and achieved his private pilot’s license at the age of 15. He joined the Marine Corps on Oct. 1, 1967, in hopes of being able to fly but instead was educated in communications and navigation for F-4 Phantoms and sent to Vietnam. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 1, 1971, and was married to Linda Leeper of Westminster, California, on Oct. 8, 1971, just seven days later. They had two sons, Kristoffer, born in 1974, and Cameron, born in 1977. They lived in many places as Gary spent time as a supervisor for UPS, in insurance sales for John Hancock Life Insurance Company, as the owner of a paint and coatings manufacturing company in Ontario, California, and finally as an Los Angeles Police Department officer. He retired from the LAPD in 2017. Prior to his retirement he traveled to China where he met his second wife, Xia. They were married in March of 2017.

He was preceded in death by his parents Edith and Edwin, sister Jeanne Graham, brother John, and brother Gregory, all of Kalispell.

Gary is survived by his wife Xia, his son Kristoffer and husband Dan, his son Cameron and wife Amber and three grandchildren, Gabrielle, Ariel and Nathaniel. He is also survived by his brother, Doug Cusick and wife Linda, and sisters-in-law Linda Cusick (widow of brother John) and Susan Cusick (widow of brother Greg), all of Kalispell, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He lived an adventurous life … may he rest in peace.