Suzanne Marie Hermsen

Suzanne is the daughter of Charles Culver and Dorothy (Werkheiser) (Culver) Fellner.

She was born November 15, 1947 in Appleton, but shortly after her birth the family moved to Sturgeon Bay, where she grew up. She graduated from St. Joseph Elementary School in Sturgeon Bay, where she met some life long friends and proceeded on to Sturgeon Bay High. After the family moved out of the city limits, her sophomore year, she attended Sevastopol High School, graduating from there in 1965.

While attending NWTC in Green Bay in 1965-1966, she met her future husband. On August 26, 1967, she married Michael Edward Hermsen of De Pere. His penchant for creating fun, with his light, positive personality, coupled with a deep faith in God, she deeply missed for the rest of her life, as he was -a short time later- killed in action during the Vietnam Nam war on March 22, 1969.

She graduated from NWTC in Green Bay with degrees as a Medical Assistant and later as valedictorian of the Licensed Practical Nurse program. She also attended the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire from 1969 until 1974 in the Elementary education program which provided valued learning for future endeavors and also provided some much cherished and life long friendships.

While in college she worked part time in security for a department store, and after college she worked in banking; both in Chicago on the Lakeshore (she always wanted to experience life in a "Big City") and then in Green Bay. The majority of her life, however, was spent working as a clinic nurse; for a short time in Sturgeon Bay, primarily in Green Bay where she was employed for 20 years in the ob/gyn department at what was initially the Beaumont Clinic and later became Prevea Clinic.

Her natural curiosity and love of learning lead her to enjoy many interests such as travel - multiple visits to the Caribbean Islands and Hawaii, classic jazz music of the 1940's & 50's, and reading "who done it" mysteries with well developed characters, as opposed to 'sensational thrillers'. She also found the process of cooking and sewing rewarding (good thing about the PROCESS, as some things did not turn out so well). She especially enjoyed life long exercise and dance classes (a member of the YMCA much of her adult life). She also took night courses in a variety of subjects including psychology and foreign languages.

Involvement in sponsoring underprivileged children began early, first with a little girl in Indonesia, then a boy in India, and finally a little girl in Guatemala. However, she considered the high point of her life, the opportunity to share her Catholic faith with children which she did for 10 years as a religious education teacher mostly to 2nd graders, taking them through their first communion. She also cherished the opportunity to read the scriptures at mass for 30 plus years and was active in and around the parish, volunteering in the parish office. She believed one of the greatest gifts of her life was her faith in God, which took her from some early low times in her life to a peaceful, happy, healthy life.

Suzie is preceded in death by her husband, Michael Hermsen; her father, Charles Culver; and her mother and stepfather, Dorothy and John Fellner. She is survived by 4 brothers: Charles (Marcia) Culver, Steven (Nancy) Culver, Joseph Fellner, and Thomas (Wendy) Fellner; one nephew Jeff (Sarah) and their sons: Jack and Grant. Also, surviving is a much cherished godson, Andre Rosteing.

A private funeral mass will be held by the family at St. Joseph Church. Entombment is at St. Joseph cemetery in Sturgeon Bay. In lieu of flowers, please direct any offerings to St. Joseph Parish.