Susan Marie (Thompson) Hill of Carlisle, IA, passed away Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at Carlisle Care Center in Carlisle, IA, at the age of 75. Susan was born on October 14, 1948, to Clifford and Helen (Thor) Thompson in Audubon, IA. She was baptized and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. She grew up east of Kimballton, IA, on the White Star Farm bought from great-grandfather, Christian C. Moller, a Danish immigrant. She enjoyed baby farm animals, and kittens were her favorite. As she got older, she helped tend the family vegetable garden and the colorful flower beds, and household chores. It often fell to her to mow the sizeable lawn. She developed a fondness for drawing, painting, arts and crafts, and baking. Sometimes in summer, she along with a cousin or neighbor girl could be found atop the horse under a tree eating ripe mulberries. She was a member of 4-H throughout her school years. Susan attended Sharon #6, a rural school on the east side of now Falcon Ave about a quarter mile south of Hwy 44, through sixth grade. After that, it was off to big school in town. Susan graduated from Audubon High School with the class of 1967.
She graduated from Dana College, Blair, Nebraska, in 1971 and became an art teacher at the junior high school level. With friends and family away seeing the world, she took employment with a dry cleaners owned by relatives of her mother in Tucson, AZ, for about six years. She learned both front customer operations and back shop management and was a valued employee. She returned to teaching art in Treynor, IA, then resided in the Altoona, IA, area for a teaching opportunity. She was married to David M. Hill of Carlisle from 1988 to 1995 with residence in Carlisle, IA. Meanwhile, she continued teaching art in Southeast Polk Junior High and retired from teaching in 2010.
In her retirement, she was an avid reader. She enjoyed gatherings with fellow teachers and friends particularly for brunch, dinner or for coffee. She liked travel and was able to add to her visit list while her brother and family were stationed in Germany. This included locations in West Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. She loved her niece and nephews, and they loved their Aunt Sue. She was fun and played. When they were older, she attended their school events, sports, plays, concerts. Susan enjoyed living in her house in Carlisle. She loved flowers and gardening and kept a beautiful mix of colors and plantings in beds and borders. This became more difficult with age and declining health. She suffered a severe stroke in January 2022 and entered long term care at the Carlisle Care Center.
Susan is preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her brother, Paul Thompson (Becky) of Woodbridge, VA; nephew, Nathan Thompson (Collette) of Woodbridge, VA; niece, Sarah Thompson of Elkridge, MD; nephew, David Thompson of Woodbridge, VA; grandnieces Skylar Thompson and Zoey Thompson of Woodbridge, VA; and step grandnephews Nick Engle and Luke Engle of Woodbridge, VA.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the Schmidt Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa, with Pastor Chris Townsend officiating. Interment will follow at Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon. A luncheon meal will be provided following interment for friends and family at the Old Park Hotel, 423 South Park Place, adjacent to the city park in Audubon.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, October 18, 2024, at one hour before the funeral.
Memorials may be directed to Samaritan’s Purse, or Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, or Save the Children in memory of Sue. They may be mailed to Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA.
Funeral arrangements are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon, IA.
