Shirley A. Suckow passed away Tuesday morning, May 12, 2020, at Park Centre Health Care in Newton. The Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton is entrusted with the arrangements. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery rural Newton. In lieu of all flowers memorials may be designated to Our Savior Lutheran Church, St. John’s Cemetery Association, Jasper County Historical Society or to a charity of your choosing.
Shirley Ann Suckow, 89, the daughter of Albert and Clara (Achtemeier) Bollhoefer, was born Aug. 28, 1930, in Newton. She was a graduate of the Newton Senior High, Class of 1947, received her B.A. in 1951 and her M.A. degree in business education in 1951 from the University of Northern Iowa. She was a member of UNI Chapter of Delta Pi Epsilon and national honorary graduate business fraternity.
On Jan. 1, 1972, Shirley was united in marriage with Robert W. Suckow. She taught business education for 34 years at Blairstown High School, Anamosa High School, East High School in Waterloo, Washington High School in Cedar Rapids and Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, retiring in 1985. She also taught at Milwaukee Area Technical College in Wisconsin. In later years, Shirley was associated with her husband in their consulting firm, R.W. Suckow & Associates.
She was a past president of the Iowa Business Education Association and Iowa Office Education Association. She received the Outstanding Vocational Educator Award from the Iowa Vocational Association. She was appointed to the Outstanding Educators of America in 1971. She was active in the Administrative Management Society in both Cedar Rapids and Milwaukee. An active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Jasper County Historical Society and Ambassador program at Skiff Medical Center. She had devoted her life to her husband and family.
Shirley is survived by her step-children, Carolyn and Dennis Kutz and Bonnie and James Guenther; step-grandchildren, Jeremy and Rosie Guenther, Aaron and Katie Guenther, Jami and Doug Graber, Joel and Kristin Kutz and Lisa and Scott Plopper; step-great-grandchildren, Elias, Abigail and Isley Kutz, Jacob and Katelyn Plopper, Ryan and Allison Graber, Stella and Olivia Guenther and Jaxon Alloway. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert on July 18, 2009; and a stepson and step daughter-in-law, Roger and Martha Suckow.
Due to state and federal guidance on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will be having a private graveside service at a later date at St. John’s Cemetery.
Online condolences may be left for the family at pencefh.com.
