Sara Sue Carline

Sara “Sue” Carline, 72, of Springfield, passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Villas of Holly Brook. She was born on October 19, 1953, in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Thomas and Joyce (Richardson) Carline.

Sue graduated from Springfield High School in 1971, attended Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and earned her bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.

She went on to work as a Human Resources Manager with the Illinois Department of Local Government Affairs, now known as DECCA after college. She relocated to San Francisco, CA in the early 1980’s and began her career in Human Resources and Operations with Royal Insurance Company becoming later Royal & Sun Alliance Group, then worked for Home Insurance Company, and rounding out her insurance career with Travelers Insurance Company. She was a huge fan of the San Francisco 49er’s & held season tickets for many years beginning in the Golden Age of Joe Montana. Sue returned to Springfield permanently and quite memorably on March 24th of 2013 in the midst of one of the city’s worst snowstorms on record. She worked part-time for The Pauly Group in Springfield as Office Manager until she retired completely about four years ago.

Sue adored her beloved cats Stinky, Gretta & Stella over the years. She enjoyed spending time in the summer with family in the North Woods of Wisconsin, traveling, especially to France, taking ocean cruises, home decorating, spending fun time with friends, movies at the theaters, and was very handy with tools and enjoyed tinkering and fixing “things.” She was known as adventurous, hardworking, motivated, a perfectionist of sorts, and fiercely independent. She will be missed by her friends and family very much.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Cathy Wankle. Sue is survived by her sister, Debbie (Bill) Prather of Springfield and half-sister, Kristen (Robert) Chata of Rogers, AK; and nieces, Alexandra and Margaret Prather of St. Louis, MO.

Cremation will be provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of the donor’s choice.

A Celebration of Life and Memorial will be announced and held at a later date.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home – Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.