Susan (Sue) Klimcheck Miller's Obituary
Susan “Sue” Klimcheck Miller, age 87 from North Fort Myers, Florida, died Wednesday, October 11, 2017 in Fort Myers, Florida.Sue was born on March 27, 1930 in Cleveland, OH. She was adopted at the age of three by Frank W. Klimcheck and Susan Elizabeth (Bess) Klimcheck (Gallagher) from Ashtabula, OH. She had one brother, also adopted, William Klimcheck . Sue lived on a bluff above Lake Erie and spent her childhood summers reading, babysitting and swimming with friends. She attended Harbor High School, Ashtabula, OH and received a BS in elementary education at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN. She met her first husband, Richard H. Miller, while traveling home by train. A note Richard wrote after meeting her stated that Sue was fun, vibrant, creative, talkative and social – “a keeper”. On June 27, 1953, they married in Ashtabula, OH. They lived for two years in South Bend, IN, where Sue taught Kindergarten for the local school district. They lived for 30 years in Cleveland Hts., OH with their six children. She returned to school in the 1970s to study early childhood education at Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, OH. She worked as a preschool teacher for the Salvation Army, Cleveland OH.She married William Miller in 1985 in Las Vegas, NV. They spent their retirement years RV traveling, playing golf, visiting family and spending the summers in Port Clinton, OH and winters in N. Ft. Myers, FL.Sue and her partner, Donald Horning, have spent the last 20 years pursuing their passion for golf, dancing, musical theater and concerts, and travel. He being from New York made sports watching a great rivalry as Sue was an avid Notre Dame University, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians fan.While raising her six children, Sue pursued her teaching passion by being active with Cleveland’s Catherine Horstmann Home, a transitional home for woman with mental disabilities. In her later life she was a volunteer at the Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store. She was an avid Facebook user utilizing this social media to keep tabs on her children and grandchildren.Sue is survived by her partner, Donald Horning; sister, Jane Law; children: James Miller (Beth), Chagrin Falls, OH; Suanne Drees (Joseph), Toledo, OH; Elizabeth Miller, Independence, OR; Judith Miller (fiancé Michael Gottlieb), Urbana, IL; William Miller (Maria), Apex, NC; Matthew Miller (Judith), Chapel Hill, NC; 10 grandchildren: Michael Miller, Mentor, OH; Jeremy, Christopher and Daniel Drees, Toledo, OH; Lisa Ryan (partner Kelcy Cox), San Diego, CA; Kevin Ryan, Eugene, OR; Michael Ryan (Stephanie), Burlington, VT; Timothy Miller, Cleveland Heights, OH; Briana Miller, Charleston, SC; and Chandler Miller, Winston-Salem, NC; five step-grandchildren: Reid Street (Valerie), Mayfield Hts. OH; Sarah Street, Lyndhurst, OH; Matt Sheck (Amelya), Waterloo, IL; Daniel Bogue, Orlando FL and Haley Bogue, Little River SC; one great-grandchild: Skylee Cox; and seven step-great-grandchildren: Justin Flower, Riley, Benjamin, and Madeline Street, and Carly, Abi and Daniel Sheck.Sue was preceded in death by her birth mother, Marie Agnes Giel, adopted father, Frances W. Klimcheck, and mother, Susan Elizabeth (Bess) Klimcheck; brother, William Klimcheck; sister-in-law, Maurie Klimcheck; first husband, Richard H. Miller; second husband, William Miller; and granddaughter, Ashton Miller. Susan supported childhood cancer research following the death of Ashton.In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate contributions in memory of Sue to Live Like Bella Foundation P.O. Box 161215, Miami, FL 33116-1215, http://livelikebella.org/ or Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN 46556, www.saintmarys.edu/Funeral Mass, Saturday, October 21 at 12:00 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2157 Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33901. The family will receive friends at the FORT MYERS MEMORIAL GARDENS AND FUNERAL HOME, 1589 COLONIAL BLVD., FORT MYERS, FL 33911, PRIOR TO THE FUNERAL FROM 10:00 TO 11:30 A.M.
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