Sue Sauer, age 86, of Grand Rapids, MN, died Friday, May 24, 2024, at The Pillars in Grand Rapids, MN surrounded by family.

Sue was born in Indianapolis, IN, in 1938. She spent her younger years in Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. The family moved to Madison, WI and then to Minneapolis in her teen years. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. She attended St. Catherine's University, Metro State University, University of Minnesota, and St. Mary's University. She became a registered nurse, obtained a baccalaureate degree in nursing, and a master's degree in health and human services administration. Sue spent 27 years at the University of Minnesota Hospitals in the pediatric department as a staff nurse, a head nurse and clinical nurse specialist. She worked arduously with very ill and dying children and their families. She also was a great leader, instructor, and mentor for nurses. She took great pride in developing nurses to be leaders in the profession. She taught many clinical courses and was an instructor for the Minnesota Association of Public Teaching Hospitals. Sue was very active and held leadership positions with several professional organizations at the national level. She received the highest Professional honor of being awarded the status of "Fellow" for outstanding and meritorious contributions to the field of cardiovascular nursing. She also collaborated with nurses from other university medical centers to do pediatric nursing research. For over 10 years Sue collaborated with other leaders to facilitate support groups for parents and siblings of children who had died. She also had several publications about grief, dying children and their families, childhood cancer, and kidney disease.

Sue and husband, Daryl, moved to Deer River, MN when she became the Director of Nursing/Assistant Administrator at Itasca Medical Center. She also taught briefly at Itasca Community College and did guardian ad litem work with Itasca County court system. She believed strongly in volunteerism. She spent countless hours volunteering for the American Cancer Society, The Ronald McDonald House, and the American Heart Assn. She was Chairman of the Board of the Minnesota Heart Assn, and a regional Vice President of the American Heart Assn at the national level. Sue also taught the art of quilting for many years to hundreds of women. She took great satisfaction in helping quilters discover their creativity.

Sue's greatest passion and love was her wonderful family. She cherished her husband of 60 years, her sons, daughters-in-law, and adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She truly loved every minute she shared with her sister, brothers, in-laws, family, and friends. Nothing was more important to her and made her happier than spending precious moments with each and everyone who was so dear to her. Her heart was filled with gifts each and every one of them gave her.

Sue is preceded in death by her parents, and brothers, Denny Needham, Tommy Needham, and Mark Needham. She is survived by her husband, Daryl; sons, Brad (Nancy) Sauer, and Jeff (Kandy) Sauer; sister, Mary Beth Christensen; seven grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, MN on Friday, June 7, 2024, at 10:00 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. Father Blake Rozier will officiate. Burial will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at North Oaks Golf Club, North Oaks, MN from 11:00am-2:00pm.

Arrangements are with the Rowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Grand Rapids, MN. To sign the online guestbook or send condolences visit www.rowefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.