Susan D. Staples

1953 - 2025

Susan Diane Staples, nee Almstedt, 71, Catawissa, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, after a 10-year battle with cancer.

Susie was born Dec. 17, 1953, at Deaconess Hospital, St. Louis, to Robert Charles and Rosemary Martha Almstedt, nee Mertz.

Susie married John Thomas Staples on Feb. 18, 1978, bore a son, Kevin Andrew Staples, and daughter Jill Marie Staples.

She attended Catawissa Union Church and graduated from Meramec Valley High School in 1972, then completed a two-year degree at East Central Junior College, Union.

Susie worked at St. Francis Hospital, Washington; Alton Box Board Factory, Pacific; First United Methodist Church, Sulphur, Oklahoma; and had 24 years with National Park Service, serving at Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Sulphur, Oklahoma; and Fort Scott National Historic Site, Fort Scott, Kansas. She retired May, 2016.

She is survived by husband John; son Kevin; daughter-in-law Erin; grandchildren Mckenzie and Tucker, Howe, Oklahoma; daughter Jill and Lucas Hudson, Ada, Oklahoma; very close family friend, Madlen Franklin of Ada, Oklahoma; brother Steven Almstedt, Gerald; Uncle David Mertz High Ridge; sisters-in-law: Peggy Staples, Cornelia, Georgia, Margaret Staples, Miami, Florida, and Diane Almstedt, Gerald; brother-in-law: Robert Staples, Miami, Florida; nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces and nephews, friends and co-workers.

Susie is preceded in death by parents, Robert and Rosemary; brother Scott Almstedt; sister-in-law Nancy; and uncle Arville Mertz.

Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m., Friday, March 7, at Nieburg-Vitt Thiebes Funeral Home, Pacific.

Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 8, at Catawissa Union Church. Interment at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Catawissa.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or Catawissa Union Church Ladies Aide or Memorial Fund.

The family is being served by Nieburg-Vitt Thiebes Funeral Home, Pacific.