Edith Linnea (Levine) Susan of St. Louis, MO entered into eternal rest on August 15, 2010 at the age of 90 years.  She was born October 26, 1919 in Marquette, MI, the eldest

child of Hilmer and Edith (Carlson) Levine, and reborn a child of God and member

of Jesus Christ through Holy Baptism at Messiah Lutheran Church, Marquette, MI, where she was a life-long member. 

As a girl, she accompanied her parents many times to their native Sweden, and also learned to love the family “camp” just outside Marquette at Lakewood on Lake Superior—two places she was glad to return to again and again all her life.

Linnea (“Toots”) graduated from Gravaret High School in Marquette, where she also met her sweetheart Frank Susan.  After her graduation from Northern Michigan University, Marquette, she and Frank were united in marriage on July 18, 1942, and she taught elementary school initially in Hermansville, MI.

After the end of World War II, beginning in Quantico, VA, she followed Frank across the U.S. from one Veterans Administration posting to another as wife, mother and homemaker.  Over the years they lived in St. Petersburg, FL, Prescott, AZ, Clinton, IA, Chicago, IL, Hicksville, NY, Louisville, KY and finally Little Rock, AR, where they retired in 1975.  In every one of their home cities, family and church activities were foremost; in St. Petersburg, Chicago and Louisville she also worked full-time as a classroom teacher. 

In retirement, Toots loved summers at camp with Frank, visiting family, and traveling, both in country and overseas.  The Lord gave them more than 44 years of marriage until Frank’s death in 1986.   Since 1994 she had lived in St. Louis, MO with her daughter Karen, where she has enjoyed crocheting blanket squares and attending to her canine friend Buster.

She is survived by four children: David (Shirley) Susan of Madison, WI, Karen Wahlers of St. Louis, MO, Christine (Marcus) Felde, Indianapolis, IN, and Daniel Susan of Marine City, MI: by nine grandchildren: Mark Susan, John Wahlers, Rebecca Susan, Linnea (Felde) Webb, Martha (Felde) Paschke, Michelle Susan, Peter Wahlers, Eric Felde, and Kara (Felde) Koschmann; and by five great-grandchildren: Samara, Hannah, Elijah, Evelyn and Maxwell; also by her sister Joan Drevdahl of Vancouver, WA and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband Frank and by two sisters, Leone and Carol.

A graveside service will take place at Park Cemetery, Marquette, MI on Monday, August 30 at 2:00 p.m., Pastor David Van Kley presiding.  In particular, Linnea’s family wishes to thank many loving caregivers and St. John’s Mercy Hospice.  Memorials may be made to Messiah Lutheran Church, 305 W. Magnetic, Marquette, MI 49855, or the Humane Society.  St. Louis Cremation is serving the family. “Whether we live or whether we die, we belong to the Lord.”  (Romans 14:8)