Suzanne Marie Kifer

1959 - 2025

Suzanne Marie (Brumback) Kifer was born to Kenneth and Cecile Brumback on July 11, 1959, and grew up on her family's farm near Bunceton. She accepted Christ in her youth at First Baptist Church of Otterville where her family attended. She graduated from Pilot Grove High School in 1977, and attended college at Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, where she met her husband, Thane. They married on July 26, 1980, on the hottest day of the year. She graduated with a degree in Education from the University of Missouri in 1981, and obtained her Master's in Education in 1982. She and Thane moved back to Thane's hometown of Bolivar and became members of First Baptist Church, developing lifelong friendships which remain to this day. Suzanne established the first Gifted Education program in Polk County when she began teaching at Pleasant Hope Elementary, and loved her role there, as she was also loved by her students. She gave birth to sons Drew (1986) and Troy (1993) and was nothing short of a super-mom. In 1998 the family moved to El Dorado Springs where they remained until 2004 when they returned to Bolivar. Suzanne retired from the public school system in 2014 after touching the lives of countless students over the decades. In 2016 she took on her favorite role - that of 'Nana' - with the birth of her granddaughter Cora, and later James and Owen. She had a special soft spot for her 'fur babies' as well - her puppies gave her added joy.

Suzanne was an incredibly loving person. She gave of herself to her family, to her students, and to her friends. She was selfless, always putting the needs of others ahead of her own. She was a natural beauty, but always humble. She led by example, and was always encouraging to others. A diagnosis of gliosarcoma – a rare, aggressive, and inoperable brain cancer – came in June of 2025, but she immediately made her peace with her situation, and focused on enjoying the little things. As the cancer took her energy, then her mobility, and eventually most of her speech, she never stopped loving, never stopped encouraging, and never stopped trusting in the Lord's plan. Her last words represented her life's story, distilled in four simple words: "I love you, too."

She left her earthly body in her sleep the night of Aug. 30, and entered the presence of the Lord, where there is no suffering and no cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ron Brumback, and her granddaughter Celia Rose Kifer. She is survived by siblings David and Joyce, husband Thane, sons Drew (and wife Jessica) and Troy, grandchildren Cora, James, and Owen, and many friends and extended family who miss her dearly.

Services will be at Butler Funeral Home in Bolivar with a visitation on Sunday, Sept. 7 from 3-5 p.m. and funeral services on Monday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m. with interment following at Greenwood Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Friends of Bolivar Parks in her honor, in order to support the construction of the upcoming municipal dog park.