Susan A Shultis
Sue was born August 9, 1944, to Richard Louis Walter and Martha Joan Alexander Walter at Buckingham Air Force Base in Fort Myers, Florida. She was the eldest of the five Walter siblings: Elizabeth Ann Walter Breault, Mary Ellen Walter, Martha Jane Walter Baki, and Richard L Walter, Jr. Raised in Mansfield, Ohio, Sue attended St. Peters Catholic Grade School and High School and was crowned Homecoming Queen her senior year. She earned a scholarship to the College of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, her mother's alma mater. After graduation, Sue taught high school Spanish and Biology in Plainfield, Illinois and bought her first and favorite car, a 1964 white Ford Mustang.
Sue considered herself extraordinarily lucky to be in the right place (Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois) at the right time (August 1966) where she met the love of her life, John Kenneth Shultis. They were married in Mansfield, Ohio on June 17, 1967. After Ken completed his PhD, the happy couple spent a year in Groningen, Netherlands, where they enjoyed camping and exploring Northern Europe. Ken joined the faculty at KSU, and together they planted their roots in Manhattan, Kansas. Kathryn Alexis (Kate) was born in 1971 followed by Carolyn Margaret (Carrie) in 1973. In 1979, The Shultis family lived in Karlsruhe, Germany for a sabbatical year and made many wonderful memories exploring castles and cathedrals.
Wife, Mom, and Grandma were Sue's favorite titles, but she was also a great friend and volunteer. Sue was a Master Gardener and active in the Manhattan Garden Club, hosting annual sales and planting beautiful flowers around Manhattan. Sue was a talented artist and loved drawing, weaving, and sewing. She was active in PEO Chapter IW, Junior League, and Girl Scouts. She loved to play tennis, bridge, swim, camp, sail, and was a gourmet cook and baker. Inspired by the great Julia Child, Sue's boeuf bourguignon was legendary!
As much as Sue loved her girls, she was thrilled to welcome her sons-in-law to the family. Kate married Ed Wenninger in 1996 and they gave Ken & Sue granddaughters Abby, Anna, and Cara. Carrie married Nathan Reitz in 2000 and along came granddaughter Millie and grandson Phin. All 5 grandchildren looked forward to a week at "Grandma Camp" every summer, when Sue filled each day with different activities for them.
A private family celebration of Sue's life will be held this summer. To honor her memory, please plant daylilies, bake with your grandchild, beat your daughter at cards, or have lunch with a friend.