Obit: Grambsch, Susan Elizabeth (1949 – 2021)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Grambsch, Marsh, Anderson, Mulder, Stratman, DeBenedictis, Alarid

----Source: Cuddie Funeral Home (Loyal, Clark Co., WI) 3/15/2021

Grambsch. Susan Elizabeth (26 September – 12 March 2021)

Susan E. Grambsch stepped into the arms of Jesus on Friday, March 12, 2021 at the home she adored surrounded by her loving husband and children.

Susan Elizabeth (Anderson) Grambsch was born on September 26, 1949 in Park Ridge, IL to Charles E. and Ruth E. (Marsh) Anderson. They later moved to Downers Grove, IL and she was part of Downers Grove South High School’s very first graduating class in 1967. Sue went on to UW-Madison where she would meet the love of her life C. Robert Grambsch.

They met for the first time on their first date February 22, 1968. The Graduate had just premiered in theaters and was a big hit, so big, the theater had oversold the showing and they had to sit huddled together on the steps to watch the movie. Exactly one year later, Robert put a ring on her finger at Paisan’s over pizza and champale. They married a year and a half after on August 22, 1970 surrounded by family and friends including all four of their grandmothers.

After graduating from college, Bob and Sue moved back to Bob’s hometown, Loyal, in the fall of 1971 to help in his Dad’s business. Sue was hired at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield where she worked from 1971 until she retired in May 2019. During her 48 years of dedicated service, she was honored with numerous awards and became the hospital’s first Quality Improvement Coordinator. But honestly, none of that really mattered to her, other than what it provided for her family.

Bob and Sue loved and raised their six children into God-loving adults who started families of their own and 50 years later the house that love grew is bursting at the seams with spouses, fifteen grandchildren, and even one great-granddaughter. Sue loved cooking, baking, and celebrating her family with huge get togethers for holidays, birthdays, and “just because” days! 10 different pies with made from scratch crust for Thanksgiving, 26 different kinds of cookies and fudge for Christmas, cheesy potatoes and pistachio torte for Easter, and each kid’s favorite meal and cake for their birthdays, she knew how to make each one of us feel loved and make life as a Grambsch special. The house was usually full, and it was her absolute joy to be surrounded by her family.

Bob and Sue celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past August with all 28 of us in the house Bob’s dad built for his mom in 1965 (their son Josh lives there now). We made a cake with the cake topper from their wedding cake on it. Their great love created a legacy, a legacy of the power of God in our lives, of being a light in the darkness, of beauty from the ashes. Sue’s quiet strength and enduring faith in her Savior during her short, very hard battle with cancer is yet another testament to the amazing life she lived full of love, God’s love!

Sue is survived by her husband, Robert of Loyal; her children, Heather of Green Bay, Benjamin (Brandi) of Loyal, Joshua (Margaret) of Loyal, Sarah (Jeff) Mulder of Rio Rancho, NM, Matthew (Melissa) of Greenwood, and Nathan (Courtney) of Amherst; her 15 grandchildren, Gabrielle (Ben) Stratman, Bailey, Caleb, Melanie, Lucas, Chase, Coleton, Caleb, Caden, Keston, Eden, Johnathan, Kayla, Elizabeth, and Michael; her great-granddaughter Luca; her 2 brothers, Charles (Mary) and John; and many other relatives and dear friends.

Sue was preceded in death by her grandparents, her parents, and older sister Marsha DeBenedictis.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 19, 2021 at Faith Fellowship in Marshfield, WI. Pastor Brian Alarid, a close family friend from Albuquerque, will be officiating. Visitation will be held at Cuddie Funeral Home on Thursday, March 18th from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., and again at the church on Friday, March 19th from 2 p.m. until the service begins.


In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.  Sue loved children and cancer took her from us way too soon.

We ARE because you WERE; Robert’s Sweetheart, our Mom, our Grandma, our Great-Grandma. I’ll say it again.

We ARE because You WERE!!!!