Susan Marie Pelatzke

Madison - Sue was a gift. Family and friends cherished her and were blessed to spend time with her. She had a million-dollar smile and almost as many friends. They described her as ""amazing,"" ""brilliant,"" ""remarkable,"" and ""more loved than anyone else I know."" She was a mentor, counselor, advocate and leader. Her temperament was one of calm equanimity and determination, traits that served her well in her three and a half-year battle against pancreatic and ovarian cancers. Sue died June 24, 2011, at HospiceCare, Inc.
Susan Marie Korth was born June 27, 1946 in Milwaukee to August (Augie) and Terese (Lehmann) Korth. Sue married Ken Pelatzke on October 6, 1973. They lived in Milwaukee and Bayside until their move to Madison in 1997.
Sue enjoyed a lifelong career in health care. She worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield for 30 years, where George Torphy and Joe La Fleur were her mentors. Her talent for analysis and resolution of complex problems led to many leadership positions, including director of operations at the Fond du Lac and Evansville offices. A skilled project manager, Sue led many start-up operations and was chosen to facilitate the merger of two acquired HMOs, addressing issues ranging from human resources and facilities planning to provider network development and health plan operations.
In 1997, Sue accepted a position with the UW Medical Foundation. She was named Vice President of Quality and Care Management in 1998, leading the medical (MD, RN), behavioral (PhD), and pharmacy (PharmD) management staffs, promoting relationships with quality improvement staff at UW Hospital, community hospitals and partner health plans. She was a founding member of the Madison Patient Safety Collaborative, dedicated to hospital, physician and patient safety. As the first UW Health representative to the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality she championed creation of new ambulatory performance measures. Sue was a member of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health adjunct faculty, as well as a member of the Unity Health Plans Insurance Corporation Board of Directors. She retired in 2007.
Sue and Ken were best friends with unlimited devotion to each other. Friends said their affection, friendship and marriage were an inspiration. They shared everything in life, including a love of photography and travel, particularly to Italy. Their many wonderful friends were a great joy and sustained them throughout Sue's illness.
Sue is survived by her husband, Ken; brother Rich Korth; aunt Marie Korth; uncles Roman (Arlene) Lehmann, Art (Ruth) Lehmann, Fred (Patricia) Korth; nephews Scott (Mary) Korth, David (Candy) Korth, Michael (Kris) Korth and Kevin Korth; niece Erin (Steve) Maloney; cousins Paul (Rita) Korth, Peter (Kathie) Korth, Gary Lehmann, Marc (Julie) Lehmann, Wendy (Rob) Griepentrog, Kim (Kent) Olsen, Debra (Nicholas) Pedemonti; and other wonderful family. Her parents preceded her in death.
Sue's family extends its gratitude to her devoted medical team at UW Health and the UW Carbone Cancer Center. Physicians Michael Thom, Daniel Mulkerin, David Kushner, Kyle Holen and Clifford Cho, and many other exceptional individuals, cared for her with gentle compassion. Heartfelt thanks to the HospiceCare home team, Annette and Betty, back-up nurses Jenny, Kristen and Kendra, and the inpatient staff.
A celebration of Sue's life will be held Saturday, July 16, 2011, at the First Unitarian Society of Madison, 900 University Bay Dr., Madison, WI, at 12:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to the UW Carbone Cancer Center, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53792, www.uwhealth.org/our-carbone-cancer-center/27366.