Susan Jane Stemmler

Sue was born in 1936 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Marjorie Neva Padeski and Karl Kenneth Koffron. She was the second child in a loving family of four girls, who had a wonderful childhood in Cedar Rapids, despite the presence of the second world war and the rationing that resulted. She sometimes spoke of her neighborhood friends and sisters playing at the nearby park and also of her father taking her fishing. Children in those days got along with far fewer toys and no television so they were usually found running around outdoors – Sue being no exception. She and her mother and sisters had a passion for collecting, and for fashion and fine antique furnishings and décor, which they shared their entire lives.

After high school, Susan attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and joined the Delta Gamma sorority of which she remained a member until her death. She met Robert Stemmler (Bob) on a blind date in 1956 and it may not have been “love at first sight’, but it was pretty darn close! They married in November of 1957, and Sue left school to become a homemaker. After their first daughter Melissa (Giffin) was born in 1958 they moved to Chicago where they had a son (Karl) in 1959. They then relocated to Westfield, NJ when Bob took a position with Celanese Corporation, and there they stayed for the next 15 years, changing residences three times as their family grew. They welcomed three more children in the following years: Kurt in 1963, Elle in 1969, and James in 1971. These years in Westfield were all about friends and family. Sue was a fabulous cook, a talented seamstress, a wonderful hostess and vacation planner, a natural and creative interior designer, a diligent family bookkeeper, and a lifelong friend to a group of neighborhood couples, on top of being an amazing, warm, and loving, wife and mother.

In 1978 the family left NJ for Orange County California, when Bob accepted a transfer to become General Manager of Narmco Materials. At first, Sue did not want to move, and then when she finally agreed, she insisted that she didn’t want to stay longer than 2 years. It turned out that she fell in love with California, and her home in Villa Park. Her daughter Melissa married Philip Giffin in 1979 and presented her parents with their first grandson - Ryan Giffin, shortly thereafter. Sue saw her children through high school and college and took up crafting and babysitting. A second grandson (Alex Giffin) was born in 1984. Sadly, their daughter Elle died in a car accident in 1987 and this was a horrific wound that could never heal. It helped somewhat that a wedding took place in 1993 (Kurt and Jessica Bergeron) and six more grandsons arrived by 1998: Erik, Ross, and Miles Giffin, and then Harrison and Garrett (Kurt) and Reid (Karl). Finally, two granddaughters arrived on the scene in 2001 and 2002 - Marjorie (Kurt) and Jordyn (James) and a great-granddaughter too, Alyze Giffin (Ryan). Four additional great-grandchildren have since expanded the family – Shay (Ryan), Calen and Elle (Alex), and Mason (Erik).

Their huge loving family is just what Sue and Bob wanted! Family times were the best times! Birthday parties, 4th of July BBQs and softball games, Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas Eve, and Christmas day celebrations were just a few of the yearly festivities which they hosted. There were also family vacations and family reunions with Sue’s sisters and their families, or with Bob’s brother and sister and their families. Extended family and friends were nearly always included, making the gatherings ever larger and more fun.

After Bob retired, he and Sue enjoyed traveling more frequently. They had already visited Japan and Europe in addition to most states in the U.S., but after Bob retired, they returned to Europe (especially France) and also went to Australia and New Zealand. They enjoyed many years of post-retirement togetherness and truly enjoyed one another’s company. They loved to dine out and discover new restaurants. Sue put great time and effort into holiday preparations and get-togethers, the Christmas season is her favorite by far. Even though her family had grown very large she still chose and wrapped a gift for every single member. She remained close to her two sisters Karen (Ables) and Charlesy (Bennett) and their families throughout her life, and also kept connected with her husband’s family as well.

In 2018 Sue and Bob moved to Irvine, California where their daughter and her family live. There they settled into their final “golden” years. Formal get-togethers and informal occasions with one or more family members were common during these years. Bob began to have health problems that never resolved, and Sue was a steady and loving caregiver until the end of his life last November. Theirs was a special bond that continued to flourish for more than 65 years. It truly seemed that they were made for each other, and it was very difficult to accept their being apart.

Sue had an amazingly generous spirit and a wonderful sense of humor. Laughter came easily and was always a big part of her day. She was a voracious reader with many interests, a great conversationalist, and someone who was always interested and concerned with you, and what was going on in your life. She was a late bloomer when it came to technology, but she finally committed to using a cell phone and a laptop at the age of 81 and she mastered them! She did a daily crossword puzzle, had unique and extensive collections of oranges and hearts, and read the newspaper each and every day. She was a fashion lover who enjoyed shopping at Talbots and Brighton, and she stayed “ultra-petite” in spite of her ferocious love of chocolate and pastries. Sue was also an avid sports fan who could talk sports with the experts – she knew that much. She was always loyal to the Iowa teams (Hawkeyes), the Kansas City Chiefs, and the California Angels. She is incredibly missed, and our lives are immeasurably changed and much less colorful without her.

Sue is survived by her daughter Melissa (Philip), her son Karl, and her son Kurt (Jessica), her sister Karen Ables of Newport Beach, California and her sister Charlesy Bennett of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, along with ten grandchildren (mentioned above) and five great-grandchildren (mentioned above), as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws across the country. She is predeceased by her daughter Elle (1987), her son James (2020), and her youngest sister Johanna (1944).

Precious mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend - with the most loving and giving soul, has passed on to be with her husband, daughter, and son. She, our Sue-Mom-Grandma-Gambi will be lovingly remembered and adored, always and forever.

A service and burial were held on February 27, at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana, California. It can be viewed online at the Dignity Memorial website.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fairhavenmemorial.com for the Stemmler family.