Susan Peterson
December 17, 1953 — November 2, 2023
Susan Elizabeth Pattee was born on December 17th, 1953 to Wallace and Shirley (Niemann) Pattee. She grew up on the family farm in Avoca, was an elementary student at Hancock School, and attended church services regularly with her family. From an early age, Susie watched her parent’s strong work ethics and modeled her own after them. She graduated in 1972 from AvoHa High School in Avoca. While in high school, Susie was involved in drama club, was a member of the basketball team, held various leadership roles, and was a member of National Honors Society. She was voted “Most Versatile” by her Senior class and starred in the musical “The Bells are Ringing” among other activities.
In June of 1973, she was married to Mark Peterson and to this union brought three beautiful children; Joel, Jessie, and Joshua. While raising her family, she continued to help on the family farm. Susie furthered her education by enrolling at Iowa Western Community College and received an Associate of Arts degree. After that, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Buena Vista University. Susie began one of her life’s passions, becoming a high school English teacher at the High school in Avoca, She was affectionately known as ‘Mrs. P’ to her students, staff and colleagues throughout her years of service. She went on to pursue her Master's degree at Northwest Missouri State University. She moved to Ames in 1996 to work on her doctorate at Iowa State University and two years later accepted a position in Sidney as the High School Principal. She enjoyed the Sidney community; she made many friends, was a supporter of the rodeo, and remained there until 2004. Eventually, she would return to her alma mater and was hired as High School Principal at the renamed AHST High School in Avoca for many years.
Susie loved education and helping teachers become the best they could be. She left her administrative position to begin a new career; she used her skillset to co-start her own education consulting business with her friend Tina, they started TS Consulting. Susie worked with many educators across five states and made a huge impact in their lives and careers. She was still actively working.
Some things her family loved about her: She loved being a Grandma, although the first thing she said when Josh and Erin told her the news was “But I’m too young to be a Grandma!” followed by hugs and tears of joy. Her grandkids were the great loves of her life. She would frequently host Cullen, Wyatt and Devon for a weekend of fun at her home. She could be found around the kitchen table putting together puzzles, or playing board games and cards for hours on end with her grandkids. She also enjoyed playing video games online with her ‘Oregon Petersons’. Braden would tell you she gave the best hugs and that she had a way of bringing the whole family together. She loved her trips to Oregon to visit with Joel, Susan and Rowen and would prepare endlessly with excitement for their visits to Iowa. She was always willing to use her expertise to help Jace and Ellie with scholarship applications and beamed with pride when they told her one had come in. She was a huge fan of the grandkids' sporting events and school activities; she attended them every chance she could. When Jett would mow her yard, he was always greeted with a payment of pop and Oreos. She loved watching college football and NFL games but the kids knew she was watching for Howie Long just as much.
Susie’s high school best friends were lifelong friends and a top priority to her. They truly loved spending time together and would take trips all over the country; they had the best adventures with countless laughs and fantastic memories.
Susie loved making Christmas candy with her mother and sisters every winter and carried on the Pattee tradition of making mints for grandkids’ graduation parties. Jessie and Susie had an annual birthday shopping trip including a lunch date because their birthdays are just two days apart.
Reading was her favorite hobby, she was a member of the Avoca Book Club and had an extensive book collection. She also liked playing cards with her Bridge Club. She was on the committee for the ‘Remember 6 on 6’ celebration and loved telling the grandkids about her days playing basketball. She was an amazing story teller with endless details in every story. Her door was always open for friends and family as she loved receiving company.
Susie was kind, helpful, intelligent and strong. She put others before herself. Family was important to her and she made a point to keep in contact with them regularly. She enjoyed the Pattee’s annual picnic in the park and visiting with her nieces, nephews and their families. One of the things she was most proud of was that, in her own words, she raised three amazing children. When presenting at her many school districts while she was consulting, she would tell stories about her kids and grandkids so much that more stories were expected during her next visit.
Inspired by her father, Susie was an organ donor and continued to help others after her life had ended.
Susie was preceded in death by her father Wallace Pattee. She is survived by her mother Shirley Pattee, siblings: Ginny (Randy) Lamp, Kathy Andersen (Lee Legenhausen), Charlie (Penny) Pattee, and John (Lana) Pattee; her children Joel (Susan), Jessie (Justin) and Joshua (Erin) and cherished grandkids Braden, Jace, Ellie, Cullen, Rowen, Jett, Wyatt and Devon. She is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, former colleagues and students.
In June of 1973, she was married to Mark Peterson and to this union brought three beautiful children; Joel, Jessie, and Joshua. While raising her family, she continued to help on the family farm. Susie furthered her education by enrolling at Iowa Western Community College and received an Associate of Arts degree. After that, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Buena Vista University. Susie began one of her life’s passions, becoming a high school English teacher at the High school in Avoca, She was affectionately known as ‘Mrs. P’ to her students, staff and colleagues throughout her years of service. She went on to pursue her Master's degree at Northwest Missouri State University. She moved to Ames in 1996 to work on her doctorate at Iowa State University and two years later accepted a position in Sidney as the High School Principal. She enjoyed the Sidney community; she made many friends, was a supporter of the rodeo, and remained there until 2004. Eventually, she would return to her alma mater and was hired as High School Principal at the renamed AHST High School in Avoca for many years.
Susie loved education and helping teachers become the best they could be. She left her administrative position to begin a new career; she used her skillset to co-start her own education consulting business with her friend Tina, they started TS Consulting. Susie worked with many educators across five states and made a huge impact in their lives and careers. She was still actively working.
Some things her family loved about her: She loved being a Grandma, although the first thing she said when Josh and Erin told her the news was “But I’m too young to be a Grandma!” followed by hugs and tears of joy. Her grandkids were the great loves of her life. She would frequently host Cullen, Wyatt and Devon for a weekend of fun at her home. She could be found around the kitchen table putting together puzzles, or playing board games and cards for hours on end with her grandkids. She also enjoyed playing video games online with her ‘Oregon Petersons’. Braden would tell you she gave the best hugs and that she had a way of bringing the whole family together. She loved her trips to Oregon to visit with Joel, Susan and Rowen and would prepare endlessly with excitement for their visits to Iowa. She was always willing to use her expertise to help Jace and Ellie with scholarship applications and beamed with pride when they told her one had come in. She was a huge fan of the grandkids' sporting events and school activities; she attended them every chance she could. When Jett would mow her yard, he was always greeted with a payment of pop and Oreos. She loved watching college football and NFL games but the kids knew she was watching for Howie Long just as much.
Susie’s high school best friends were lifelong friends and a top priority to her. They truly loved spending time together and would take trips all over the country; they had the best adventures with countless laughs and fantastic memories.
Susie loved making Christmas candy with her mother and sisters every winter and carried on the Pattee tradition of making mints for grandkids’ graduation parties. Jessie and Susie had an annual birthday shopping trip including a lunch date because their birthdays are just two days apart.
Reading was her favorite hobby, she was a member of the Avoca Book Club and had an extensive book collection. She also liked playing cards with her Bridge Club. She was on the committee for the ‘Remember 6 on 6’ celebration and loved telling the grandkids about her days playing basketball. She was an amazing story teller with endless details in every story. Her door was always open for friends and family as she loved receiving company.
Susie was kind, helpful, intelligent and strong. She put others before herself. Family was important to her and she made a point to keep in contact with them regularly. She enjoyed the Pattee’s annual picnic in the park and visiting with her nieces, nephews and their families. One of the things she was most proud of was that, in her own words, she raised three amazing children. When presenting at her many school districts while she was consulting, she would tell stories about her kids and grandkids so much that more stories were expected during her next visit.
Inspired by her father, Susie was an organ donor and continued to help others after her life had ended.
Susie was preceded in death by her father Wallace Pattee. She is survived by her mother Shirley Pattee, siblings: Ginny (Randy) Lamp, Kathy Andersen (Lee Legenhausen), Charlie (Penny) Pattee, and John (Lana) Pattee; her children Joel (Susan), Jessie (Justin) and Joshua (Erin) and cherished grandkids Braden, Jace, Ellie, Cullen, Rowen, Jett, Wyatt and Devon. She is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, former colleagues and students.
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