Sue Warner

Sue Warner was a woman who could talk to anyone. Her quick smile and laughter put others at ease, and people trusted her with their stories and struggles. She had gone through many hard times of her own and understood how important a listening ear could be. Sue also loved her family well and remained present and supportive through the good times as well as the difficult. Her fun-loving spirit and good nature were a positive influence wherever she went.

In 1950 Gary and Marjorie (Barwig) Wagoner of Battle Creek, Michigan, welcomed their first and only child, Sue, born on January 29, 1950.

Marge remarried in 1954, and at the age of seven, Sue took on the role of big sister when her mom and stepfather (Karl) Keith Nelson had their first son, Kevin, followed by Bradley two years later. Keith became a father figure and was always there for her. The family lived in Keith’s hometown of Kalamazoo. Sue was greatly influenced by Keith’s joyful attitude toward life, and many happy memories were made in their home. Sue attended Loy Norrix High School and graduated with the class of 1968.

Sue loved to swim, which was a pursuit she continued throughout her life. She was very popular in high school and so was her high school sweetheart, Terry McBride. After she graduated, Sue and Terry exchanged wedding vows. During the twelve years of their marriage, they had two children, Mindy and Mikkel. Sue enjoyed hosting parties and enjoying the sunshine. The whole family loved on Babbit, their toy poodle. Sue and Terry remained friends even after they separated.

Sue was a loving mother and always made sure her kids had what they needed no matter what. Mindy and Mikkel knew they could count on their mom for anything and trusted her to keep their confidence and to give the best advice she could. She enjoyed spending time with them and loved watching them learn and mature. When the family grew to include grandchildren, Sue’s heart grew right along with it.

Sue met Tom Warner, and they exchanged wedding vows on November 10, 1989, in Kalamazoo. The couple built a cabin in Irons, Michigan, a small town in the middle of the Manistee National Forest. Tom drew up all the plans and then built it himself with the help of his son, brothers-in-law, and friends. With its peaceful backdrop and plentiful wildlife, Sue liked taking “girl trips” there to unwind. Sue was saddened to lose Tom in 2016.

Sue and her kids had always enjoyed holiday shopping together, making sure to fit in stops for lunch. She didn’t need the holidays as an excuse to shop, however, and the tradition lived on and spread, later including Sue’s granddaughters. Sue loved clothes and even had some in her closet that still had price tags. She used their time together to teach her granddaughters that they had “Girl Power” and related well with them.

Sue loved Elvis Presley, and one of her favorite memories was being among the lucky few to see the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll in concert the last time he performed at Wings Stadium, jumpsuits and all, on April 26, 1977. He died just four months later, breaking the hearts of fans everywhere. Rock remained Sue’s favorite musical genre, and her number one band was Foreigner.

Sue consistently found ways to stay physically active and made friends at her health club. When the seasons kept her inside, Sue liked to read romance and mystery novels. Sadly, she suffered a stroke in 2020 that made it difficult to see, and reading became a struggle. Visitors could often find her watching true crime and science fiction shows. She kept cats in later years with Shadow being a particular favorite.

Sue was a wonderful woman who was equally up to the tasks of being a sympathetic friend or dispensing fashion advice. She delighted in hosting parties in her home and made sure her guests felt welcome. Sadly, Sue suffered the effects of dementia during the last few years of her life. Her family always knew that she loved and cared for them. She will be sorely missed.

Sue died peacefully on Thursday, November 14, 2024. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Warner; the father of her children, Terry McBride; her father, Garrett Wagoner; and her stepfather, Keith Nelson. She is survived by her children, Mindy (Steve) VanDyken and Mikkel McBride; four granddaughters: Amber VanDyker, Kamille Massey, Marissa McBride, and Maureen McBride; her mom, Marge Nelson; her partner of seven years, Robert Tolliver; two brothers, Kevin (Lisa) Nelson and Bradley Nelson; and her Boston Terrier, Maxine.

Please join us at a Life Story Visitation where food, drinks, and stories will be shared on Monday, November 18, 2024, from 5-7 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A Celebration of Sue’s life will take place on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 11:00 AM at the funeral home followed by a reception. Celebrate Sue’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.