SUZANNE NIESEN

Suzanne (Lewandowski) Niesen age 81, died peacefully on August 10, 2018.  Sue was born to Joseph and Freda (Krablean) Lewandowski on January 13, 1937 in Neenah. Sue married her best friend Tom Niesen on June 21, 1958. They had 42 very special years together before Tom preceded her in death on May 28, 2000.

Sue graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1956 from there she worked at Lawrence University for several years until she had her first baby. Sue was a stay at home mom and in between caring for her growing family; she was involved with the religious education and spiritual formation for parishioners at St Mary's Menasha. Sue volunteered countless hours working with children receiving their First Holy Communion, First Reconciliation, and the Sacrament of Confirmation. Tom and Sue together volunteered preparing couples for the Sacrament of Marriage. Throughout their marriage, Tom and Sue opened their home to nieces and nephews, a number of foster children, exchange students, and refugees. Sue always said, “What is one more mouth to feed?” Notwithstanding her many other volunteering responsibilities, Sue was a voracious reader. She taught by example her children and grandchildren a love of books, music, art and nature. The ability to see the beauty surrounding us every day was what Sue called feeding the soul.

Sue is survived by her children; Jeff (Amy), Nancie (Dave) Heneghan, Sallie (Bob) Pfaffl, Mary Lou (Brent) Kalaus, Pattie (Dan) Carroll, Jodi (Mike) VanRossum, a very special nephew, Charlie (Lisa) McCarty, and a very special niece, Cailin (Bill) Docter; her grandchildren, Anna (Trevor) Tietgen, Rachel Niesen, Joe Niesen, Natalie Heneghan, Meredith Heneghan, Madeline McCarty, Nell McCarty, Jack McCarty, Bob (Bobbi) Pfaffl, Matt (Andrea) Pfaffl, Sam Docter, Christian Docter, Claire Kalaus, Bryce Kalaus, Jack Carroll, Audrey Carroll, Luke Carroll, Max VanRossum, Lydia VanRossum. She is further survived by a brother Scott Lewandowski, sisters; Bonnie (Bill Leonard), Mert (Jerry) Heindel, Peggy Decoster, Jackie (Mike) Reardon, and Debbie Brill, and sisters-in-law, Jane Lewandowski and Pauline Niesen. Numerous nieces and nephews further survive Sue. 

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Tom, infant twin granddaughters, parents, Joe and Freda, sister Joan and her husband Dick McCarty, brother John “Dan” Lewandowski, brother Joseph “Louie” and his wife Joan Lewandowski, brothers-in-law, Jim Fisch, and Jerome Decoster.

A very special thank you to Dr. Okundaye for her loving care and hugs, Theda at home Hospice especially Lorraine, Judy and Amber and her caregiver Kate Manderfield who's kind gentle demeanor gave Sue great comfort until the very end.

The Visitation for Sue will be held on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at Menasha's Westgor Funeral Home, 1140 Appleton Road, Menasha from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service to follow the visitation.  The Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 17, 2018 at St. Mary Parish, 528 Second Street, Menasha with Msgr. Jim VandenHogen officiating.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Heart of the Nation (PO Box 14428 Milwaukee, WI 53214) or SPIRITUS Ministry (522 Second St., Menasha, WI 54952.  Additional information can be found online at: www.heartofthenation.org and www.spiritusministries.org