Susan D. Dahlke, 74, was called to her eternal home on June 4, 2026 after a hard-fought battle with COPD. Sue was born on August 17th, 1951, to Merle and Laura (Riehl) Greely. She grew up on her family’s farm in Bear Creek as the youngest of 8 children, where she developed an exceptional work ethic that stayed with her throughout her life. After graduating from Shiocton High School, she began her working career with the Saranac Glove Company of Green Bay, and later became an office manager at the Shrine of the Good Shepherd Chapel Mausoleum where she met her loving husband of the past 46 years, Jim. Eventually moving to Appleton, Sue began a long career with the organization currently known as Ascension, first as a walk-in clinic secretary and eventually Emergency Room Co-Coordinator and Administrative Assistant to the emergency room physicians, serving St. Elizabeth Hospital, Mercy Medical Center and Calumet Medical Center. She was beloved by her colleagues, and made many lasting friendships with the physicians, nurses and staff at each facility, and kept those friendships into her final days. Known for her loving, tough and selfless demeanor, “Mama Sue” was a fixture in the St. Elizabeth Emergency Department for over 30 years.

Throughout her life, Sue enjoyed a range of activities, including participating in pool and bowling leagues, driving in tractor pull competitions as a young woman, dancing and socializing with her friends and family, painting ceramics and raising flowers, watching the Milwaukee Brewers and attending the occasional game, indulging her addiction to quarter machines at local taverns, drinking coffee or wine with whomever would come over for conversation, cooking chili or many other of her family’s favorite meals, baking treats of all kinds, hosting or visiting with her in-laws, and spending time with her siblings at the Greely family homestead, the home of her late brother Jim Greely, on Lake Metonga, in Crandon, or the Wolf River cottage of her late sister Judy Manley, in New London. She had a close relationship with her mother Laura and maintained the same with her surviving brother, Buck Greely, and sisters Sandy Williams and Gerri Hansen. She loved her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dorothy and Harvey Dahlke, and enjoyed spending time with them at the Dahlke family farm. She looked forward to visits and gatherings with her husband Jim’s brother, Dan (Nan) Dahlke, and their children, in Libertyville, IL, as well as having regular get togethers and outings with Jim’s youngest brother Dave (Darlene) Dahlke, in De Pere, WI. She also relished entertaining and hosting family and friends at large Thanksgiving, Christmas, and 4th of July gatherings, birthdays or other holidays.

Above all, Sue loved being a mom to her four boys, Corey, Joshua, Shawn and Jordan. She was a fiercely devoted mother, supporting everything they did, from music, to a variety of sports, coaching of youth athletics, and in their professional careers of Information Technology, Physical Therapy, Finance and Sales. She was incredibly proud of her boys. In turn, they were so proud of their mom, being regularly in awe of her tireless efforts, toughness, love, and kindness; they all loved her immensely. In addition to her sons, she loved their wives, Becky, Nicole, Kristin, and Tracy as the daughters she never had, and was equally proud of them. This love and dedication carried over to her role as “Grandma Sue,” to her six grandchildren, Caleb and Brianna (Josh and Nicole), Jacob (Corey and Becky), and Penelope, Harvey and Charlie (Shawn and Kristin), where she spoiled them regularly with presents and treats. Even as her health deteriorated and she could no longer attend events easily, she cherished watching her grandkids’ activities online or hearing of their accomplishments in playing high school basketball, baseball, golf, softball, or volleyball, or youth band, robotics, softball, baseball, hockey and dance.

Sue also loved her dogs, having 2 cocker spaniels (Cuddles and Sassy), who spanned 30 years between them, before finding an affinity for her three pugs, LilLi, Lucy and her newest baby, Lola, who all kept her heart and lap warm.

Faith in God was an important part of Sue's life. She was a long-time member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Appleton, WI, and occasionally helped in the school kitchen while her sons attended Mt. Olive Lutheran School. Her faith in God sustained her throughout her years of ill-health, and she frequently shared her faith with her children and grandchildren during difficult times in their lives. Even as her body failed, she held tightly to God’s promise that her faith in Jesus would carry her through to her heavenly home.

Sue was loved deeply by her family, friends and professional teammates, but most of all, by her husband, her boys, and their families. Despite her small stature, she was a tremendous force that brought people together, and will be profoundly missed.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Laura, and her father, Merle; sister Judy Manley and brother-in-law Lyle Manley, sister-in-law Marilyn Greely, brothers Junior, Jim and Ken Greely, sister in-law Terry Greely; as well as her father and mother-in-law Harvey and Dorothy Dahlke, and sister-in-law Darlene Dahlke. She is survived by her husband, Jim, brothers-in-law Dan (Nan) Dahlke and Dave Dahlke, her four boys, Corey (Becky) Dahlke, Joshua (Nicole) Dahlke, Shawn (Kristin) Dahlke and Jordan (Tracy) Dahlke, her six grandchildren, Caleb, Brianna, Jacob, Penelope, Harvey and Charlie, as well as her cousins throughout the greater Fox Valley area, and her many beloved nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and nephews.

We rest assured, knowing that we will see Susan in heaven, and look forward to that day where we will be together again, just as God promises through the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 8: 38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Family and friends may visit on Thursday, June 11th, from 9:00am until 10:45am at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, at 930 E. Florida Ave, Appleton, WI 54911. The funeral service will be held at 11:00am with Pastor Joe Gawel officiating. Burial will be at St. Paul Cemetery, Luxemburg, WI. Wichmann Funeral Home will be assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make donations to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church of Appleton, to the “God’s House, Our Home” fund, to assist Sue’s home church in renovating their facility.

We give special thanks to Appleton Fire Department and Gold Cross who assisted Sue in her final hour on earth, and Dr. Michelle Schacht, MD, for her compassionate care during Sue’s last months.

Revelation 14: 13, Then I heard a voice from heaven say "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."