Susan Holly Strunk's Obituary
Susan H. Strunk, 75, Winter Haven, Florida, formerly of Clinton, Iowa passed away on June 11, 2021, in Florida, with her children by her side.
Memorial Service will be 10:30 am, Friday, July 30, 2021, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Clinton. Burial will be at the Clinton Lawn Cemetery immediately following the service. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting her obituary at www.snellzornig.com.
Susan Holly Strunk was born December 17, 1945, in Chicago, the daughter of Paul Leopold and Marjorie (Adler) Strunk.
She was a 1964 graduate of Clinton High School. Susan’s life was devoted to family and church. She attended Grandview College in Des Moines and completed her BA in Music at the University of Northern Iowa. Her profession as a Music Director/Organist and Piano Teacher in her own studio for over 40 years, allowed her to share her gifts with many. In her earlier years she served churches in Clinton, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and Traer. Susan also appeared in plays at Timber Lake Playhouse. In 1990 she began as Minister of Music at Christ Church, an historical (1732) Episcopal Church in Redding, Connecticut. A church member had said, “It’s like a preview to heaven when you and the choir perform.” While living in Connecticut she enjoyed traveling to New York City and attending as many Broadway Musicals as possible. Another love was traveling to Europe. In 2015 she retired and moved to Florida. This allowed her time to play her Steinway piano for fun, rather than practice.
Most recently she was “drafted” to play the organ at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winter Haven. She had commented that the organ is one of the biggest and most beautiful of her musical career. It made her feel good to know that she could still “crank” it out and make it sing!
Left to cherish her memory are her four children: Christian Heaford, Fargo, North Dakota; Amy Carey, Marion, Iowa; Drs. Andrew (Heather) Heaford, Ada, Michigan; and Elizabeth Chalise, St. Petersburg, Florida. Two step-daughters, Tabitha (Larry) Marshall, of Carmel, New York, and Linnea (Alan) Leclair of New Milford, Connecticut. Nine grandchildren; Boston Heaford, Calista Carey, Trot Carey, Piper Carey, Joey Carey, Oscar Heaford, James Heaford, Jazen Heaford, and Nicolas Chalise. Three step-grandchildren, Ivy and Willow Marshall and Emrin Leclair . One sister, Nancy (Kipp) Larsen of Waukee, Iowa; and 3 brothers, Joe (Marcia) Strunk of Clinton; Kim Strunk of Boone, Iowa; Kevin (Kathy) Strunk of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and an aunt, Theo Smith of Asbury, Iowa, along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Preceding her in death were her parents, and her husband, Paul Pearson.
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