Rose Marie "Sue" Tarpinian

Stoughton - Rose Marie (Sue) Tarpinian, age 88, died at Agrace Hospice in Fitchburg, WI on September 4, 2024, after a brief illness. She was born July 5, 1936, to Mildred Maxine (Orr) and John Charles Ryan in Minneapolis, MN. After her parents divorced, her mother worked as a housekeeper which took her to various farms and small towns in Minnesota and North Dakota. Sue attended high school in Valley City, North Dakota (Go Hi-Liners!). She graduated Salutatorian of her class and was awarded a scholarship to Mercy School of Nursing but decided to take a gap year to earn some money before attending. While working at Montgomery Ward in Valley City, ND, she met Grant Tarpinian, and her life plans quickly changed. Grant and Sue married in St. Paul, MN in 1955, and together they spent the next 20 years raising kids in cities and towns throughout the upper Midwest, including Watertown SD, Thief River Falls MN, Montevideo MN, Waterloo IA, Freeport IL, and Wisconsin Rapids WI. They finally settled down in Stoughton WI in 1975. Sue worked for many years for Dane County where she helped countless people navigate Social Services to help with food and shelter.

Sue enjoyed activities that connected her to people and memories. She liked to call herself the “Town Crier” for news, address changes, illnesses and life events for her high school class of 65 graduates. She collected photos, news clippings, poems and other artifacts to build scrapbook binders to remember friends, family, and trips. She famously sent greeting cards for every possible occasion just to make them feel special, even if only for the moment. She was a lifetime student of the Bible and loved her Soul Sisters Bible Study group like a second family. 

Sue was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Grant, of 61 years; brothers Thomas John Ryan and Emmett Spencer Ryan; daughter Jennifer Jean, and son, Timothy Wayne. Sue is survived by sisters-in-law Gailya Ryan of Columbus NE, Betty Tarman of Alta Loma, CA, and Jackie Tarpinian of Jamestown ND; children, Grant Michael "GM" (Cathy), Larry Scott "Tarp", and Gary LaRoi (Donna); grandchildren Robert (Maria), Jennifer Marie, Jason, Jonathan (Ellie), TJ (Brandy), Brittany, Kelsey (Cy), and Matthew (Martina) Tarpinian; Kim (Bo) Kitelinger, Craig Robinson, Stacy Ryan, and Jennifer Lee (Nick) Kline. She also had ten great-grandchildren: Aaron, Julianna, Elizabeth, Gabriel, Landon, Wyatt, Jennifer Lynn, Mariah, William, and Elliot; along with cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday September 13, 2024, at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 310 E. Washington St. Stoughton, WI 53589 with Rev. Bill Lehman presiding. The burial will be in Eastside Cemetery Stoughton. Visitation will be from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM on Thursday September 12, 2024, and also from 10:00 AM until the funeral at the church on Friday. 

The family wishes to thank the staff of Agrace Hospice and Kettle Park Senior Living for their compassionate care.

Memorials may be made in Sue’s name to Doctors Without Borders or SmileTrain.

For those not able to attend in person, please register at the following link to view a copy of

Rose Marie “Sue” Tarpinian’s service:

https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=0ef820ef-ac67-4fc1-872d-f6beafb95a28

Please share your memories of Sue online.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

206 W. Prospect, P.O. Box 231, Stoughton

(608) 873-9244

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com