Susan Wacek, 78, Owatonna
Susan Wacek, age 78, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Oct. 3, 2024.
Susan was born in Owatonna to parents Ralph and Josephine (Suchanek) Nass. She graduated from Marion High School in 1964. She attended the College of St. Theresa in Winona, graduating with a degree in mathematics and a minor in English.
Susan married Edward Wacek in 1968 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They shared a love for travel, exploring many countries together. One of Susan’s favorite vacations was to the Galapagos Islands, where she marveled at the giant 100-year-old tortoises.
Susan and Edward settled in Owatonna as Edward worked with his father at Wacek Brothers Custom Cabinetry. Susan taught at Marian High School (now St. Mary’s School) for 41 years. Math was her primary subject, and she joked that she could do math ‘in her sleep!’
In retirement, Susan continued to educate by tutoring math. For the past decade, she volunteered at the Somali American Cultural Society of Owatonna. She helped students with their homework and offered kindness and support to these children that she adored. The students and director Ibrahim affectionately called her “Grandma Sue.”
In addition to traveling the world and spending time with family and friends, Susan also enjoyed reading, coloring, doing Sudokus, playing games on her tablet, flower gardening, and crocheting. Most of all, she cherished time with her four granddaughters. She was always ready to challenge them to a game of Demon!
Susan is survived by her husband of 56 years, Edward; daughters, Carrie (Shannon) Waldrop of Eagan and Kimberly (Derrick) Mathot of Rochester; granddaughters, Sydney and Keira Waldrop and Danielle and Amber Mathot; and siblings, Colleen Root, Roger (Joan) Nass, Fred Nass, Theresa (Ron) Marschel, Allan (Jan) Nass, and Rosemary (Dave) Millette.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, Barbara, David, Eileen, and Mark.
Visitation will be held from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, at the Brick-Meger Funeral Home, Owatonna, with a brief prayer service and memory sharing at 5 p.m. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the funeral Mass at church. The Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 14, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Owatonna. A Catholic Daughters of the Americas rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. on Monday at the church.
Instead of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s School or to the Somali American Cultural Society of Owatonna (SACSO). For more information or to leave an online condolence message go to www.megercares.com.