Obituary of Susan E. Schumacher

Susan Schumacher, aged 67, passed away Sunday, December 31, 2023, at Lantern Park Specialty Care in Coralville, Iowa, due to complication from Multiple Sclerosis. A Celebration of Life will be from 1-4 pm, Saturday, March 30, 2024 at the Elizabeth Community Building (402 West Street, Elizabeth, IL).  

Susan Elizabeth Schumacher was born March 27, 1956, to parents Wayne and Monica (Ehredt) Schumacher in Savanna, Illinois. She graduated from Elizabeth High School in 1974 and kept in contact with numerous EHS classmates. After high school Susan earned a degree in Early Childhood Education from Iowa State University. She worked briefly as a librarian assistant for Iowa State before she decided to contract-transfer to the University of Iowa. She worked for the University of Iowa library for 30 years before retiring in 2021.

Of all the places she had lived in the Midwest, Sue was so glad she came to stay in Iowa City. She so appreciated the diverse population and cultural environment of the city and the medical support of the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinic. Sue said of her time at the Libraries, “I am so inspired by all the young people that I have met.”

Family was most important. Home is where the heart is, and for Sue, that remained to be Elizabeth, IL. Sue’s siblings live in the tri-state area and have blessed her with nieces and nephews and lots of “greats.”

Susan’s family includes sisters; Sally Gilligan of Dubuque, IA, Shirley (John) Rosenthal of Galena, IL, Sharon Wand of Elizabeth, IL; three nieces, seven nephews, many great-nieces and great-nephews; and dear friends, Mark Forbis of Ames, IA, Megan Appell-Melcher of Iowa City, IA, and Leah Appell-Waterman of Iowa City, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Donald Schumacher; brother-in-law, William Wand; and one great-nephew in infancy, Cole Spoerl.