Suzanne Estella Dahling

1931 - 2024

Suzanne Estella (Foelber) Dahling, 93, of a longtime resident of New Haven, passed away on October 26, 2024, at Story Point West, Fort Wayne, where she had lived the past three years. Born April 26, 1931, the daughter of the late Eugene and Rosella (Busch) Foelber. She was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church Ft. Wayne, IN on May 24, 1931, and was confirmed in the faith also at St. Paul on Palm Sunday, March 25, 1945. Sue graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School in 1949. She attended Stephen's College in St. Louis, MO before transferring to Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana where she graduated with both a Bachelors (1953) and Masters (1958) degree in Education. Sue was an elementary school teacher at Adams Elementary School within the Ft. Wayne Community School District from 1953-1955 until her marriage to the late Fred W Dahling MD on October 1, 1955. He preceded her in death on June 20, 2023. She also taught at Calvary Lutheran School in Indianapolis. Sue was a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church of New Haven, where she was appointed to the Central Lutheran School Board, serving also on numerous church related committees and boards including superintendent of the Sunday school. Sue was appointed as an inaugural board member of the Lutheran Foundation beginning in 1996 after the sale of The Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne. She served as a board member of Lutheran Senior Care Ministry, Bethesda Homes, as well as President of the Fort Wayne Medical Auxiliary. It was during her term as president of the Auxiliary, that she spearheaded efforts to raise funds for the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo African Veldt. Sue sought opportunities to use her talents to impact the greater community. Her passion for community health and her impact within her community were recognized along with her husband with the IUPUI Spirt of Philanthropy Award in 2005. For many years she volunteered as a reading specialist at St. Paul Lutheran School in Ft. Wayne developing her own unique curriculum. She tutored students at Central Lutheran School in New Haven, delivered homebound meals, and served as a troop leader and mentor with the Girl Scouts. What Sue cherished the most was her family. She found joy in being a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was an avid reader and master gardener. She is survived by her five children, Daniel (Tamara) Dahling of New Haven, Mary (Steve) Easterday of Roanoke, Christina (Shahrom) Kiani of Onolaska, WI, Kathryn (Larry) Barnard of Ft. Wayne, and Ruth (Troy) Roberts of Naperville, IL. Eleven grandchildren also survive her: Joel (Anna Neal) Miller, Henry Dahling, Lydia (Gabor) Cseh Dahling, Rosemary (Vince) Calabro, Alexandra (Trent) Wilburn, Maryfrances (Scott) Siegel, Victoria Barnard, Nicole Roberts, Derek Roberts, Yasi Kiani, and Arman Kiani and one great-grandchild Eleanor Calabro. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two brothers, Thomas, and John Foelber. Funeral Service is 11 am Monday, November 4, 2024, at Harper's Community Funeral Home, 740 State Road 930 E., New Haven, with visitations two hours prior (9-11am). Burial at Emanuel Cemetery, New Haven. Preferred memorials are to Homebound Meals, Matthew 25 Health & Care, and donors choice. To share online condolences please visit www.harperfuneralhome.com