Obituary of Lt Col Elaine Sue Houser
Lt Col Elaine Sue Houser
Sue Houser, passed away peacefully at the age of 71, on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at Amita St. Joseph Medical Center. Sue was born on June 16, 1949, the daughter of the late Ralph and Phyllis (nee Ness) Houser. She was raised and educated in Chicago, IL and Alma Center WI, and was a graduate of South Shore High School and received her Nursing Degree from South Chicago Community Hospital and was a proud graduate of the University of Iowa.
Sue was a proud decorated Veteran of the United States Air Force Reserves. She was a Flight Nurse and Air Reserve Technician with the 63rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at the 928th Airlift Wing, O’Hare Air Reserve Forces Facility. Sue rose to the rank of Lt Col retiring with twenty years of faithful service. Her awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor, Combat Readiness Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star, AF Longevity Service Ribbon with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksman Ribbon, AF Training Ribbon, Saudi Arabian Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal. Sue was a Life Member of and past Judge Advocate of the Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 in Naperville, IL.
Sue worked in the spinal cord unit at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, retiring several years ago. She was an avid golfer. One may have found her enjoying a good cigar one of those outings. Additionally, she enjoyed sunny days riding her ATV at their summer home in Alma Center Wisconsin, where she will be missed by many lifelong friends. Sue and her wife Sharon shared beautiful memories from their travels to different countries and hiking the Smokey Mountains. They loved taking cruises or months long trips around the country in their travel trailer, escaping the harsh winters of Illinois. Anytime you met Sue she was wearing something with the Green Bay Packer football team on it, she was their biggest fan! She loved live theatre and concerts and enjoyed the comedy of Lewis Black. She enjoyed listening to the music of Willie Nelson, Cole Porter, and Patsy Cline but also loved dancing; especially the jitterbug.
Along with her generous heart, Sue had the greatest sense of humor; she could make the sourest person laugh. She was a great supporter of Veterans and Veterans events.
Sue is survived by her loving wife, who she has been with for 26 years, Sharon Ann Andrews; two nieces, Laura (Jim) Walsh and Susan (the late Tom) Siwinski; two nephews, Mathew (Robin) Shukstor and Gene (Trish) Shukstor; dear “aunt” of Brian (Blair) Nathan and Emery Andrews , Joseph (Becca) Cooper and Clara Andrews, Dan (Amy) Jason and Jeremy Andrews; her oldest friend Jim(Deb) Barr; and close friend Nina Petru.
She is preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Arlene Shukstor; and her aunt, Ella Hancher.
A Memorial Gathering for Lt Col Elaine Sue Houser will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. on Friday, June 4th, at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd. (at Essington Rd.), Joliet, IL and will proceed to St. Mary Immaculate Parish where a Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Inurnment will follow at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood with full military honors held under the auspices of the United States Air Force.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society would be appreciated. For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
