Susan Lynn Wilson, age 78, of Traverse City passed away peacefully in the very early hours on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at her home after a prolonged courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Sue was born in Syracuse, NY on June 28, 1947 to the late William and Etola (Bloomquist) Cady. The family moved to Allen Park when she was six where she attended school throughout, graduating from Allen Park High School in 1965. Favorite activities included cheerleading, synchronized swimming and student government. She went on to graduate from Michigan State University with a BS in nursing. She later obtained a MA in health education from Central Michigan University. Sue married L. Curtis Wilson on December 20, 1969 after dating since their senior year in high school. They were four days short of celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary when she passed.

Sue worked as a psychiatric nurse, then a public health nurse before becoming a school nurse with Traverse City Area Public Schools where she had a 34-year career. Many of those years she was the coordinator of the nurse's department. She also served for a time as the chairperson of the Michigan School Nurses Association. Her job duties were many and varied, including direct health and support services to students, staff support, community liaisoning and health education and training to students and staff. Her buoyant and sweet personality served her well throughout her professional and personal life but also belied a keen interpersonal intuition, contributing to her leadership and social skills.

Sue was a lifelong tennis player and lately an enthusiastic pickleballer, which provided numerous close friendships over the years. She enjoyed gardening, keeping meticulous flower beds. She loved to travel and trips were far and wide in the US and internationally. Half the fun for her was the planning and she would spend untold hours making itineraries that never failed. She was an avid recreational artist, creating landscapes and much appreciated Christmas, birthday and other greeting cards for family and friends over the years.

Most of all she enjoyed being with family. She was a loving and much-loved mother to her daughter and son-in-law Kimberly and Walter Zacharias and grandmother to grandson Jaden. She was the second oldest of four sisters who all survive, including Candace (Philip), Priscilla (Allen) and Barbara (Rob), all of Sarasota. They have maintained very close relationships supporting each other over the years. Spring breaks over almost every of the last 50 years was spent in Florida visiting them. Also surviving are husband, Curt, and her sister-in-law Marilyn (Stuart) Wilson of Lansing. She is further survived by cousins and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

The family is deeply grateful to Dr. Ruch and staff at the Cowell Family Cancer Center in Traverse City, to Dr. Nehal Lakhani and staff at Start Midwest of Grand Rapids, and to the staff of Munson Healthcare Hospice.

A Funeral Service honoring Susan will take place at 3:00 p.m., with visitation starting at 2:00 p.m., on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., Traverse City, Michigan 49684.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to, Munson Hospice c/o Munson Healthcare Foundation, 1150 Medical Campus Dr., Traverse City, MI 49684 or Crooked Tree Arts Center 322 Sixth St. Traverse City, MI 49684.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Sue's family at her tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .