Joshua Joseph Kushen was born on March 5, 1986, in Houston, Texas
Joshua Joseph Kushen was born on March 5, 1986, in Houston, Texas. During his adolescence, he lived in Texas, Nevada, and Nebraska, graduating from Southern High School in Wymore, Nebraska. During his junior year of high school, Josh joined the United States Army, and after graduation, he served his country with honor, including deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Upon returning home from Iraq, Josh married the love of his life, Amanda Nickerson, on July 2, 2007, in Maryville, Missouri. Josh never tired of telling the story of how they met, often embarrassing her, as he recalled Amanda asking if she could touch his tattoos. What began as a simple conversation grew into a love story that would span nearly two decades.
His military service took him to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, where Josh and Amanda welcomed the birth of their daughter, Brynlee. During a deployment to Afghanistan, Josh returned home for two weeks to welcome the birth of their son, Blaise, a memory their family would always cherish. Their family was completed with the birth of their third child, Barrett, during their time in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Josh later continued his military service with the Nebraska Army National Guard, where he served as a Human Resources Sergeant in Lincoln. Throughout his military career, he served as an instructor, Training NCO, and Readiness NCO before medically retiring after nearly nineteen years of dedicated service to his country.
Josh combined his military leadership experience with his passion for health, fitness, and nutrition. He devoted countless hours to helping others improve their lives and reach goals they once thought impossible. Whether through coaching, mentoring, or simple encouragement, he inspired people to become the best version of themselves.
In his personal life, Josh was a loving husband, devoted father, and faithful servant of Christ. He deeply loved his children and took great pride in the young people they were becoming. While he held them to a high standard and pushed them to be their best, everything he did came from a place of love. He celebrated every achievement, encouraged them through every challenge, and loved them beyond measure. Whether coaching basketball, baseball, or football, Josh poured his heart into supporting and encouraging them in all they did.
Josh was immensely proud of his wife. One of his favorite stories to tell was how Amanda enlisted in the Air Force at age 35. He never missed an opportunity to brag about her. He was incredibly proud of the woman she is.
While Josh accomplished many things throughout his life, he believed his greatest accomplishment was helping lead his family closer to Christ. He was passionate about growing together in faith, encouraging his wife and children in their walk with God, and building a family firmly rooted in Jesus.
Josh never met a stranger. Whether helping someone pursue their fitness goals or sharing his faith, he had a gift for making people feel seen, challenged, and cared for. Those who knew him best understood that behind his drive was a generous heart and a genuine desire to help others succeed.
Especially during the last two years of his life, Josh was passionate about sharing the Gospel, encouraging others in their faith, and pointing people to Christ. His greatest desire was that others would know the hope, peace, and salvation found in Jesus Christ. He worshipped at Woodland Hills Family Church and was actively involved with Champions in Christ Ministry.
Josh enjoyed the outdoors and wildlife, including hunting and trapping, and treasured time spent with family and friends. Above all else, he loved God and his family.
After a courageous battle with gastric cancer, Josh entered Heaven at his home in Reeds Spring, Missouri, on the morning of June 22, 2026, at the age of 40.
Josh will be deeply missed by his family: his wife, Amanda Kushen, and their children, Brynlee, Blaise, and Barrett Kushen, all of Reeds Spring; his father, John Kushen of Lincoln, Nebraska; his aunts and uncles, who were instrumental in raising him, Kim Petersen and her late husband, Bill, and Todd Wilcox and his wife, Kris, all of Barneston, Nebraska; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Larry and Sue Nickerson of Branson; his brother-in-law, Justin Nickerson and his wife, Desi, of Kearney, Missouri; along with many other beloved family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Evelyn Nolte, who lovingly raised him, and by his mother, Sherri Wilcox.
A celebration of Josh's life will be held at Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, Missouri, on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., with full military honors. Interment at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield will take place at a later date.
