Susan B. Lauffer

On September 14th of 2022 at age 76, Susan returned home in service to her Lord. Her passage was in Houston, Texas, where she had been temporarily residing. Her permanent residence was in Arlington, Virginia, where she had many close friends. Her birth date was on September 2nd, 1946, in Mokena, Illinois. Her parents – to whom she was devoted - Edward and June Lauffer, preceded her in passage.

Susan was raised in Frankfort, Illinois, and attended Lincoln-Way Community High School in New Lenox, Illinois. After graduation she moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern University. Of importance to her was her local church – the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Frankfurt. After graduating from college, she worked for the Quaker Oats Company and the G.D. Searle Pharmaceutical Company in Chicago. In those positions she reported to top executives that had played lead roles in Presidential Administrations in Washington, D.C. These experiences fostered an interest in the realms of elected politics and the development of public policy for governments at local, state, and federal levels.

Susan worked hard throughout her life to make things work, particularly for her family and friends, yet also for our government and country. A true altruist, she acted often in quiet ways and without seeking credit. Her work ethic and focus were known by all who knew her. Most of what she learned and practiced throughout her life came from working in her family hardware store and in her religious beliefs.

Susan’s professional career was one of special note. Most of it was in government service in Washington, D.C. Her great pride was her six years of service in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House under President Ronald Reagan. Her dedication to President Reagan was total, as it was to those she worked for in the White House. Two of them went on to be Governors of their respective states – Mitch Daniels in Indiana and Haley Barbour in Mississippi. Another – Andy Card, later became Secretary of Transportation and Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush.

When President Reagan left the White House on January 20th, 1989, Susan left as well. She worked to the very last minute to provide support for the President. Upon leaving the White House she went to work at a senior level at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Most of her career there was at the Federal Highway Administration. During her 25 years there she accomplished much to help improve highway systems throughout the U.S. Of major note was her role in helping design and pass the most important legislation for the improvement of the Interstate Highway System since its creation under President Eisenhower. Its title was the “Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991.” It was historic legislation for our nation’s transportation infrastructure. It was also a personal achievement for Susan. Upon passage, she played a critical role in its implementation for years afterward.

Susan was the oldest of three daughters. Surviving her is her sister, Bonita Fox and her husband, John Fox, of Missouri City, Texas; her sister, Patricia Davies and her husband, Russell Davies, of Ithica, N.Y.; Susan’s nephews are Brian Fox and Jason Fox (wife Denise Manley Fox); Her grand nephews are Collin Fox and Henry Fox, and a grand niece, Vivienne Fox. Many other family members and friends reside in Illinois. She was particularly fond of her cousins. She is also survived by her companion of 35 years and caregiver, Tom Lorentzen, of Castro Valley, California. Private memorial services will be held in Houston, Texas, Arlington, Virginia, and Castro Valley, California.

More information, remembrances, and condolences regarding Susan can be communicated and viewed through the website for The Settegast-Kopf Co @ Sugar Creek, Sugar Land, Texas, which is www.settegastkopf.com.