Suzanne Husband

Suzanne Husband was a wonderful woman, so vibrant, intelligent and loving. She had a passion for reading, for learning and creating, and an appreciation for history, and those that came before. The history of her own life can be found today in the family she loved most of all, as a beloved wife, mother, daughter and sister. Suzanne was such a gifted woman, and truly a gift to all who knew her.

Suzanne’s story began on a warm fall day in 1940, in the charming college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Those were such anxious times in this country, which looked on as the world went to war, and Nazi Germany raged across Europe. Yet even in those dark days, Richard and Alice Riegel found a little light, on September 23, 1940, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl they named Suzanne.

Suzanne was the oldest of four children in the family’s home, joining her brothers Richard and Charles, and little sister Pam. The family moved to Kalamazoo when Suzanne was just a little girl, where she went to school, and where she developed a lifelong love for books, for history and for learning.

Suzanne attended Kalamazoo Schools through the 11th grade, when her dad’s job transfer moved the family to New York State and later Connecticut. Eventually, however, Suzanne returned to her roots, where she enrolled at Western Michigan University.

One day Suzanne was heading to the school’s administration building, when she bumped into an old high school classmate named Keith Husband on the building’s steps. From that chance encounter a romance soon bloomed, and the two quickly fell in love. The happy couple was married on August 31, 1963, beginning so many wonderful years together, full of love, fond memories, and a family to call their own.

Suzanne began working for a commercial photographer for awhile, and then at the WMU Library, which she loved so much, surrounded by rows and rows of her beloved books. Soon she’d be surrounded by something she loved even more: her children.

Suzanne and Keith started their family in 1967, with the birth of their daughter Heather, while their daughter Alyson rounded out the happy family in 1970. Suzanne was thrilled to become a mother, and was an excellent mom, as well. She was very encouraging of her daughters, who brought her such enjoyment over the years.

When she wasn’t caring for her family, Suzanne began volunteering at the WMU Regional History Collection. She volunteered there for a decade, and eventually it led to a fulltime job there, where she remained for the next 20 years as the Assistant Curator. She loved working there, which combined two of her passions, history and books, and it also afforded her the chance to return to school and finish her degree. Suzanne completed her remaining two years, and earned her degree with honors from Western on April 22, 1989, which made her enormously (and rightfully) proud.

Suzanne had plenty to keep her busy, between work, school, her family and her many interests. She was a member of many local organizations, including the Friends of the Kalamazoo Public Library, the Michigan Archival Association, and the Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Society, too. One of Suzanne’s many passions was for genealogy, and tracing her family’s roots back through the years. She had a very inquisitive mind, and a researcher’s diligence, making her very good at tracing her family history.

She was also a gifted artist, and created beautiful pieces in a variety of mediums, from watercolor to pencil drawings, and usually with heavy doses of blue, her favorite color. She had many outlets for her creativity, though, especially the beautiful and brightly-colored clothing she always wore so elegantly. She had many sources of inspiration, too. She loved the theater, and loved going to The Civic and the New Vic Theatre. And of course, she loved to read, and always had a historical novel or mystery bookmarked by her bedside.

Suzanne and Keith also enjoyed spending time together, and had a wonderful marriage full of fond memories. They traveled often, everywhere from Europe to the Caribbean islands, where Suzanne realized her dream of swimming with the dolphins. They also enjoyed going antiquing around the Midwest, staying in quaint bed-and-breakfast places along the way. The couple enjoyed many special trips to Mackinac Island, as well.

Of course, Suzanne’s favorite place was always by her family’s side, from her children, to her beloved grandchildren, to the extended family she was so close to. She loved nothing more than to gather her family together at her home, the home she loved so much.

Sadly, Suzanne was diagnosed with cancer in February of 2006, which she took understandably hard. It was scary for her, but she got through by focusing on one day at a time, and focusing on the family who meant everything to her.

On Thursday, July 5, 2007, Suzanne went to Rose Arbor Hospice, where so many people came to visit her. Suzanne was such a wonderful, vibrant woman, who left an impression everywhere she went, and had many, many friends, who gravitated to her sense of humor and good-natured demeanor.

Sadly, after putting up a tremendous fight, Suzanne died on Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at Rose Arbor, at the age of 66.

Suzanne was such a special lady, such a vibrant, creative and compassionate person. She had a passion for history, and for books, and for preserving the stories of the past. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and such a beautiful chapter in the lives of all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Visit with Suzanne’s family and friends at an open house gathering on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at Life Story Funeral Home, RDMG Portage, 5975 Lovers Lane, where the family and friends will share memories and thoughts about Suzanne at 12:00 noon. A gathering with refreshments will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the Ladies' Library, 333 South Park Street. Suzanne was preceded in death by her father, Richard Riegel. Members of Suzanne’s family include her husband Keith, her daughters Heather & Dan Duchscherer of Towner, ND and Alyson & Pat Conley of Kalamazoo, her mother Alice Riegel of Kalamazoo, her brothers Richard Riegel of Tennessee, and Charles & Maritza Riegel of Indianapolis, IN, her sister Pam & Michael Nelson of Kalamazoo, her grandchildren Eliana, Annaliese, Griffin, Baker and Cassidy and several nieces and nephews. Please visit Suzanne’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory or photo, sign her online guestbook or make a memorial donation to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or Rose Arbor Hospice.