Susanne Dorothy Havlicek

Susanne D Havlicek Born: October 3, 1938 Died: March 10, 2025
Our loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Susanne D. Havlicek (nee Kleist) passed away peacefully on March 10, 2025. Sue follows her husband James J. Havlicek who passed March 22, 2003. They are now reunited in the afterlife.
Born to Harold and Violet (Petronella Ella Jablonski) Kleist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 3, 1938. Sue was best known as Mom, Ma, Gma, or Big Gma, short for Great Grandmother. She lived a full life, filled with love, laughter, fun, craziness and a deep commitment to her family or anyone that entered her home. She always put others before herself.
Most of her life she was a homemaker, however, after her kids got older, she worked for many years for a mail order catalog company called Down's Collectibles. She was the type set person who put the catalogs together and was very proud of that position.
Sue had an enormous creative side. Our entire lives were filled with making and selling her wares. From our front yard as kids, selling painted rocks (paper weights), stuffed animals, stuffed pillows and whatever else that could keep us busy and quiet, lol.
As we grew older and were now hanging with our friends, school and sports, she started crocheting. She began with her beautiful, crocheted afghans, baby blankets, baby sweaters, booties and bonnets. But her real passion was her many beautiful doilies for all seasons and her favorite was Christmas. She sold at local markets and craft fairs. She also loved to draw in pencil and chalk, paint with watercolors and do needlework. She loved taking the time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren doing many of the same crafts she taught her kids, except they never got too old for gma to teach them something new.
If Sue wasn't crafting, she was cooking home cooked meals that Chef Ramsey would say, this is Top Level Chef worthy. She also loved to bake, and her homemade breads were legendary. Her kitchen was always a gathering place for food, card games, talk and sometimes a much-needed hug.
Our Christmas holiday gatherings were eagerly anticipated by family. An assortment of foods such as polish sausage, prime rib, herring (wine sauce & pickled) and our favorite steak tartar (cannibal sandwiches), breads, appetizers, and desserts. That is a tradition she has now passed on to her children and grandchildren. She really knew how to throw a party.
Our 4th of July gatherings was an open-door policy to family and friends. The parade would come right in front of her home. There were yard games, cribbage games, board games, a couple of good hands of Sheepshead. At dusk the fireworks began right across the street.
She had a love of all Wisconsin sports, Packers, Badgers, Bucks, The Milkmen (along with her boyfriend Bovine) but her true love was the Brewers & Bob Uecker. She timed her day to either listen to the game on the radio or watch on her large screen TV. She didn't miss a game if she didn't have too. The bestest time was when she went to a Brewer game on Senior Day, got to have a beer, walk the field and touch the outfield wall. She was in seventh heaven. AND they won!!
Sue was also a devoted mother to her pets: Bam, Taz and Spike (all deceased) and her velcro sidekick Leela, (the brown healer) who knew when she wasn't feeling well, she would lay her head on her lap, just to let her know everything was okay. There is also Gracie, the little tator tot and Baby the kitty.
Sue leaves behind her son Gregory and Gayle Havlicek, her daughter Donna & Joe Marcil and Norm, son of her late sister Eleanore. When Eleanore passed her husband Norman did not know what he was going to do with young Norm. No questions asked, Sue took him in until his father was set up to take care of him. Norm became our brother and has remained as such throughout our lives.
Sue had unconditional love for her grandchildren: Brian & Lisa Havlicek, Derek & Tracy Hug, Lisa & Greg Bartz, Amanda Havlicek, Sheree Havlicek and Chris, Casandra & David Gaus, Kyle Havlicek & Aila, Joey Havlicek, David & Michelle Meleen, Marcus and Andrea Meleen and Morgan Meleen and Ryan.
Her great grandchildren: Alyssa, Jordan, Dylan (Deceased), Mason, Ariahana, Ayden, Shelby, Bowie, Ben, Luci, Logan, Ariana, Briana, Layne, and Oliver.
Her spoiling of her grands and great grands were payback to their parents.
Sue was preceded in death by her Husband, James J. Havlicek, Son, James B. Havlicek, Parents, Harold & Violet Kleist, Brothers Harold (Sunny) Kleist, Ralph Kleist, Sisters, Eleanore Musil, Gloria Kuciauskas, Patricia Valentine, Marilee Apreisnig and great grandson Dylan Stahle.
We would like to thank Zilber and Metro South hospice for all of their support and kindness during this very difficult time.
We want to say a special Thank You to Julie Shine. She was Sue's daytime companion. You provided Sue and us with compassion, kindness, and loving care for the past 2.5 years and you were Sue's "My Friend".
OK, Thank You! These are Sue's words for I Love You
A private family service will be held on March 15th.
Public Celebration of life for Family & Friends will be held on Sunday March 30th at CHURCH AND CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME, 15250 W. National Ave. New Berlin, WI. from 1-3 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 3:00 p.m.
Church & Chapel Funeral Service Serving the Family Milw. 262-827-0659 Wauk. 262-549-0659 Online Obit, Condolences, Directions www.churchandchapel.com