Sue Burns

Sue Burns, 62, a true ray of sunshine to anyone who ever met her, died at Ascencion St. Elizabeth in Appleton on Oct. 28. Sue was always a source of positivity and joy, so it would bum her out that we were even telling people about this. That's partially because she'd probably say it's nobody's damn business but mostly because she wouldn't have wanted to make anybody sad.
But indeed, "Sue Sue" or "Suzie Q" or just "Q" left us, with her loving partner of nearly 40 years, Kevin "Vin" Ruppel and her family by her side. She technically died from cancer but that came on top of other health issues she'd been dealing with for many years. In her words, the cause would have been "your basic sh-t show."
Sue was the fourth of six kids born to Cyril and Betty Burns, her Dec. 31 birthday befitting the social butterfly that she was (or "cruise director" or "Walmart greeter" as she often referred to herself). She grew up in Mount Horeb, a town she always loved and returned to often until her health kept her from doing so. While living in Madison after high school, she met Vin in the most old-school Madison way: when he asked her to dance at the Shuffle Inn, fully aware that she'd say no because she was on crutches and he just wanted to talk to her. They were together from then on and moved to Appleton in 1988 as she moved up the management chain with Burlington Coat Factory. They remained in Appleton for the rest of her life.
With a career in retail and later in restaurants, not to mention her Sue-ness, there were very few times when she wasn't recognized when going out and about in the community. Her cheerfulness was contagious, and she had a light about her that made people quickly want to be her friend (so much so that one of her sisters called her "Fly Paper"). She was an extraordinary optimist, big-hearted and hard-headed, all qualities that helped her get through so many health issues and left those who loved her thinking that maybe, just maybe, she'd pull through one more time.
Sue was a people person; those she knew for five decades or five minutes were what she loved most in life. When Sue and Vin moved to a new apartment across town a couple years ago, she quickly became friends with the entire neighborhood just from sitting outside talking to everyone who walked by. She was housebound only physically, even just sitting on the patio she continued be a social butterfly because, dammit, she was Sue.
Sue also loved '80s music, Smurfs, watching cartoons and sports on TV (particularly the Olympics and women's volleyball) and her kitties Stinky, Google, Yahoo and Swixy. She loved her warm and snuggly blankets so much she named them: Linus Blanket, Fruit Stripe and Mr. Fuzz, for starters. And she loved sharing whatever she had with others.
Sue will be missed by so many, particularly those who loved her most, and no one loved her more deeply than Vin; she was truly the light of his life. She's also survived by her sisters Lynn (Patrick) Burns-Jennings of Mount Horeb, Lori Brooks of Shoreline, Wash., and Jane Burns of Des Moines, Iowa; her brothers Patrick (Sara) Burns of Mount Horeb and Peter (Katie) Burns of Mount Horeb; and nieces and nephews Sabrina, Madeline, Caroline, Everett, Pierce, Harlow and Bella. She's also survived by her godmother, Patty Wegehaupt; her aunts Mona Scott and Anna Mae Schwarz; and dozens of cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents.
A celebration of life will be held at later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the family.
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