Suzanne Gladys Sibley

life story

Avid weeder, educator, and adventurer

About Sue

Sue was born on May 4, 1943, and passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on August 11, 2024 at the age of 81. She is preceded in death by her parents, Lorraine and Harold Brubaker and her brother David Brubaker. She is survived by her sister Kay Wosewick, her husband Jonathan Sibley, her children, Jason Klapste (Scharlemann), Kristin Klapste (Anders) and stepdaughter, Elizabeth Sibley (Ryan). Sue is also survived by five grandchildren, Georgia and Liam Klapste, Robin and Ramona Sibley-Whinnem, and Aurora Kretsch.

Sue was born in Waukegan, Illinois. Her family moved to Cedarburg, Wisconsin when she was a young child. She was raised in Cedarburg and graduated from Cedarburg High School. Her college experience was at Stout State University in Wisconsin with a BFA in Home Economics. She then went on for her Master’s degree in Education at Iowa State University, finishing up at the University of Arizona in Tempe. She married James Klapste in 1965 and in 1967 they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. She married Jonathan in 1984. While raising her family, she taught Home Economics and Special Education in the St. Paul Public Schools system for 35 years.

Some of Sue’s passions were family vacations, camping, kayaking, and skiing in the Southwest and on the East Coast. Her two favorite pastimes were shopping at the Goodwill and….of all things….meticulous weed pulling in her gardens in St. Paul and Port Clyde, Maine where her summer home was.

Sue’s bubbly personality will be dearly missed by all.

memorial service

Celebration of Life

October 9, 2024

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory 1225 Estabrook Dr, St Paul, MN 55103, USA

The service will take place in the Ordway Bonsai Garden. Visitation will start at 4:30.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services