Susan E. Heatwole, 57, of the town of Port Washington, Wisconsin, formerly of Burlington died Sunday, February 15, 2004 surrounded by her family after a lengthy struggle with ALS (Lou Gerhig’s Disease).
She was born November 9, 1946 in Burlington, daughter of Joseph W. and Grace D. Kane. She attended local public school and worked for her father at the Burlington Standard Press doing ad lay-outs, proof reading and review writing for local theatre productions.
She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Illinois Wesleyan University and received a Masters degree from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She had been a social worker at the Southern Wisconsin Center, Milwaukee Children’s Hospital-Special Development Clinic, Mendota Mental Health Center and taught at Elmbrook Schools and Port Washington/Saukville School District. While working as a social worker she realized she liked working with the children and went back to school to get her masters in Exceptional Education. She taught special education for 18 years and then went back to school for her regular education licensing and taught 3rd and 4th grade for 4 more years at Lincoln Elementary School in Port Washington. She felt there was no better a job than teaching. She loved her work and considered herself lucky to touch so many lives.
On June 30, 1979, she married Scott Heatwole of Port Washington. They were blessed with two sons of whom she was very proud. She truly loved her family and their home life together. She also took great pride in her gardens.
She is survived by her husband Scott, two sons Kirk of Madison and Scott of Eau Claire, sister-in-law Susan (Scott) Westerbeke and brother-in-law Craig (Carolyn) Heatwole, both of Port Washington, nieces Jilian Heatwole, Shandy (Tom) Roehrig, Aimee and Sara Westerbeke, nephew Chris (Julie) Heatwole, a great-niece Mariana Heatwole, other relatives and friends.
Memorial funeral services will be held at 7 PM Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at First Congregational Church, 131 N. Webster St., Port Washington. The Reverend Jeff Suddendorf will be the officiant. Interment will be in Union Cemetery, Port Washington. Family will receive friends from 4-7PM Wednesday AT CHURCH. Memorials to the Port Washington /Saukville School District Scholarship Fund, 427 W. Jackson St., Port Washington, WI 53074, the Church or SE Wisconsin ALS Chapter appreciated. Condolences at poolefh.com