Susan Lynn Menzel

Susan Lynn Menzel passed away peacefully on October 1, 2022, at the age of 69, from complications due to hemorrhagic stroke on July 17th. Born June 21, 1953, in Chicago IL, third of six children to Edith (née Kincannon) and William Menzel (both deceased). Sue moved to Hayward WI in 1972 and was briefly married to Clarence Espersen and had two daughters. She graduated from Lakeview High School (Chicago IL) in 1971 with honors. She received degrees from Davenport College (Grand Rapids MI) and LCO Ojibwe College (Hayward WI). She returned to Chicago after retiring in early 2022. Being a teen during the tumultuous sixties, Sue’s passion for human rights and environmentalism were sparked. She often referenced being a part of the first Earth Day Demonstration in 1970. Throughout her life she also had a hunger for history, politics and education, volunteering at polling stations and protesting injustices on street corners until the very end. Highlights of her broad array of lifetime careers include Sustainable Agriculture Manager and Educator at LCO College Farm (Hayward WI) until retirement, 20+ years in EMS as an EMT, Paramedic, and EMS Instructor at WITC (Hayward and Rice Lake WI areas), Dam Keeper (Radisson WI) and Librarian at the Carnegie Library (Hayward WI). Her vast volunteer work, to name only a few, included AmeriCorps, Sawyer County Dems, WOJB tribal radio station, Sawyer County Historical Society, Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary, Peggy Norbert Nature Museum and First Nations Gardens. Sue spoke on many panels for Native American issues and education. She was also a master gardener, bee keeper, seed preservationist, historian storyteller, musician and art lover. She will be dearly missed by her daughters Buffy (Jerry) Mohlman (Chicago IL) and Lynn Bruggeman (Radisson WI) and her four grandchildren Katie, Kyleigh, Jacob, and Julian. Surviving siblings are Judy Menzel (Alva OK), Donna (Wayne) Witthuhn (Belvidere IL) and Danny (Deb) Menzel (Lombard IL), plus many nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her older brothers, Gene (Jonel) Menzel (Joliet IL) and Daniel Louis Menzel (Chicago IL). Sue had a truly kind, knowledgeable, and driven soul. She lived every day purposefully and touched many lives in a variety of ways. She had her community she loved in Northern Wisconsin, as well as the new friends she was making upon her return to Chicago. She talked very fondly about her neighbors at Ravenswood Manor and at her various volunteer positions. She had big plans for them! Celebration of life will be announced at future dates. Expressions of sympathy to the family can be directed to her daughters or siblings or as a donation to one of the places she volunteered.

Susan Lynn Menzel

June 21, 1953 - October 1, 2022

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Susan Lynn Menzel

June 21, 1953 - October 1, 2022

365 Days of Grief Support

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