Browse the obituary of Susan Rae Henke August 3 1944 December 1 2022 78 Years Old residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota for funeral burial details. Write a message of sympathy or a last tribute to perpetue the friendship thread
August 3 1944 December 1 2022 78 Years Old
Obituary Susan passed away after a brief illness on Thursday December 1, 2022. Wife of Ronald Henke and loving mother of Nathan (Ann), Margaret, and Andrew. She was a proud Nana to six grandchildren; Taylor, Cameron, Braeden, Madeline, Gabrielle, and Brinley. She is preceded in death by her parents, Reynor “Pete” and Ina Mae (Lund) Peterson and father and mother-in-law Edmund and Clara (Polzin) Henke. She is also survived by brothers David (Nancy) Peterson, Douglas (Kellie) Peterson, sisters-in-law Lyndis (John) Vander Louw and Cheryl (Stephen) Hamilton. Susan was born and spent her childhood in Willmar, Minnesota. She graduated from Willmar High School in 1962 and attended the University of Minnesota where she graduated with a degree in Child Psychology. One of her greatest passions was education. She began her career as an elementary school teacher and taught in several school districts. She also served as an instructor to students with learning difficulties and was instrumental in launching an initiative that directed resources towards students from underserved communities. As part of this effort she also implemented a program that provided bussing for parents from underprivileged communities for parent-teacher conferences and PTA meetings so that they were able to more actively participate in their childrens’ education. She served as PTA President and volunteered her time as a tutor. Outside of the classroom, Susan was a woman of diverse interests and talents. If there was something that needed to be done, she found a way to do it and do it well- everything from throwing batting practice in the backyard to hand-sewing ornate ballet costumes for various productions by the Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company, as well as assisting with costumes for the Kirov Ballet. She also served as President of the Lincoln Midwest Ballet Guild. Susan loved the beauty of nature and discovering new places. She had a lifelong love for travel and the outdoors. She often recounted her summers camping at Sioux Lookout in Canada as a child and attending summer Green Lake Bible Camp in Spicer, Minnesota. This later translated into a love for family adventure, sightseeing through different parts of the country, and spending time with her family at a cabin near the Boundary Waters. Her two favorite places to visit were New Mexico and Hawaii, where she frequently vacationed with her husband, Ron. She belonged to Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Minnesota and was an active member of OWLs (Older, Wiser, Lutherans) and a Circle group. She deeply cherished the friendships she made in these groups. She had a wicked sense of humor and a sharp intellect. Her determination and loving spirit carried her through many challenges in life. Through them all she always had more love to give, and everyone received it in equal measure. She was able to enjoy a rich and full life for nearly thirteen years after major heart surgery, in part because of the wonderful care she received from various health professionals over the years, and though the Lord carried her through and her will pushed her on, she was forever grateful for the care she received from these amazing people. Above all else, Susan was a wonderful and loving wife, mother, and Nana (she would have hated for me to write grandmother). She brought a sense of warmth and belonging to all whom she knew and she enriched all of our lives beyond measure. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Susan Rae Henke, please visit our floral store. Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Susan Rae Henke August 3 1944 December 1 2022 78 Years Old.
Gearty- Delmore Funeral Chapels
Death notice for the town of: Minneapolis, state: Minnesota