Susan Wilke

Susan K. Wilke, age 77, passed away on December 2, 2021, at University Hospital. Sue was born in Chicago in 1944, the daughter of Louis and Jeanette Deters. She attended Mother McAuley High School and graduated from Edgewood College with a degree in Mathematics.

After arriving in Madison to go to college, she met Tom Wilke, and they married in 1966. They were married for 47 years before Tom's death in 2014. They were not only partners in marriage, but partners in business as well. Sue originally taught mathematics at Sherman Middle School but took a break to raise their two children. Tom soon needed help in his landscape design office. Sue volunteered and their company eventually became Landscape Partners, Inc. She managed the office while Tom designed the landscaping. Sue wanted a title at the company and chose CEO. She remained CEO even after her son, Joe, took over the business.

Sue loved planting all her flowers in the spring, and although she was a good cook, she would rather go out to eat which she and Tom did often. Both Sue and Tom were avid readers. Their house was filled with books, especially mysteries. She could often be found reading late at night, because she just had to finish that last chapter.

Sue is survived by her son, Joe (Sherry); Joe's children, Emily (Jon), Zach and Jacob; Sherry’s children, Alyassa (Logan) and their daughter Addie, Kaira (Tristan), and Brayden. She is further survived by her grandson, Thomas; great-grandson, Thomas Jr.; sisters, Carol (Tim) Hannemann, Nancy (Jim) Reyzer, and brother Bob (Barbara) Deters. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, and her daughter, Molly.

A visitation will be at The Cress Center, 6021 University Ave, Madison from 10:30 until 12:00 on Monday, Dec 13, 2021. Burial will take place in Resurrection Cemetery in Madison.

Winn-Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

5785 Hwy Q, Waunakee

(608) 849-4513