Susan Marie (Rowedder) Fonken of Lacey, Washington, 75, passed away unexpectedly from cardiac arrest on October 29, 2016. Susan was born in Manning, Iowa, on April 28, 1941. She was the youngest of four children born to Lester and Elsa (Rohr) Rowedder.

Susan married her high school sweetheart, Allan Fonken, on December 29, 1961. At the time, they were both attending Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. They lived in Spokane, Washington, and Coos Bay, Oregon, before settling in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in 1967. Susan was a stay-at-home mother until her children were in elementary school. At that time, she returned to college, graduating from the University of Washington (Seattle, Washington) in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy.

Susan worked as a Physical Therapist in a variety of settings and was well-loved by her patients and well-respected by her colleagues. Later in her career, she worked in Home Health care and tremendously enjoyed working with the geriatric population.

Susan and Allan divorced in 1988 but remained friends. Susan decided to escape the North Idaho winters and moved to Lacey, Washington, in 1999. She loved the area and enjoyed being closer to her son, Tim and his family, who live in Seattle. She lived and worked in the area until 2011. In June 2011, at the age of 70, Susan bravely decided to move across the country to the Chicago area to be closer to her daughter, Debbie and her family, who live in Burr Ridge, a suburb of Chicago. While Susan enjoyed living closer to Debbie's family, she strongly disliked the Midwest winters and traffic. So, in 2013, she moved back to the Lacey/Olympia area. She was so happy to be back among her good friends and living in a climate and area that she loved.

Susan was a wonderful mother, sister and friend. She was smart and independent, kind and compassionate, and gave of herself tirelessly. There was nothing she wouldn't do for another person and always put others' needs before her own. She had a marvelous singing voice and a great sense of humor. She loved Christmas and many of her family's fondest memories spring from those times: decorating the tree and house, making and eating fudgeons and prune soup with the whole family. While she left them with many wonderful memories, Sue will be missed every day by her family and the many friends who loved her.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Royce Rowedder; and grandson, Joshua Cloutier. She is survived by her two children, Deborah (Paul) Cloutier and Tim (Kirsten) Fonken; four grandchildren, Christian and Gabrielle Cloutier, Calvin and Nicholas Fonken; brother, Deanes Rowedder; and sister, Carol (Arland) Waters; as well as a number of dear friends.

A gathering to celebrate Susan's life will be held in late spring 2017, when the sunshine and warm weather that she loved returns.