Susan Rae Reams

Article Photos

Susan Rae Reams, age 46, of Hudson, Wis., died Dec. 16, 2009, in Minneapolis, following complications of heart disease brought on by cancer and the treatments 13 years ago. Sue was born on June 4, 1963, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Eugene and Geneva (Shogren) Tonn. On August 19, 1989, she was united in marriage to Tim Reams at St. James Lutheran Church in Gloversville, New York. This union was blessed with three great children, Zachary, Katherine and Sarah. Sue and Tim met by chance over a dog while both were working for Contel of NY. They transferred multiple times to different areas of the country for Tim's job. They both always dreamed of being able to move back to Minneapolis/St.Paul, this was home. Sue loved her job working as a customer service manager for the RESCO Company in Hudson. Over the years, she created many friends and customers. First and foremost, she loved her family and being a mom. Quiet talks with her daughters, her weekly calls with her mother, shopping sales, or giving her best at video games meant spending time with her kids. She also enjoyed watching a weekend NASCAR race on TV, seeing the Vikings beat the Packers, visiting the local beaches, and listening to all sorts of music such as Tina Turner or Whitney Houston. More recently, the family had a great time vacationing on Lake Miltona in northern Minnesota. For Tim, she was his soul mate and best friend. They frequently could finish each other's sentences and knew what each was thinking before it was said. She taught her family to see life's challenges as cup half full; not empty. Sue was not a quitter, she always faced challenges with a smile and determination that she would overcome those, as she had overcome cancer. She was a 13 year survivor and never let it get her down as she fought it for 8 years while raising her children when they were very young. She was asked by her Drs. to speak with other cancer patients to give them hope that the disease could be beat. She was always a positive influence to those around her. Even in death she will continue to be a positive influence by the unforgettable memories she created with family and friends.

Sue leaves to mourn: her husband, Tim; children, Zachary, Katherine, and Sarah, as well as parents, Eugene and Geneva Tonn; sister-in-law, Sue McGrattan; parents-in-law, Frank and Carol Reams; her beloved Uncle Al and Aunt Linda; and very special Auntie Barb; brothers/sisters-in-law, Jim (Marlyn) Reams, Kim (Jack) Jelinek, Rick "RJ" (Anne) Reams, Steve (Julie) Reams, as well as many special nieces and nephews, cousins and several very close friends in New York, Brenda, Janet, Kathy and Ann. She joins her brother, William Carl Tonn III in death.

A Celebration Of Life will be 11 a.m. Monday, December 21 at Bethel Lutheran, Hudson. Burial will be in the Willow River Cemetery in Hudson. Visitation will be on Sunday from 5 until 8 p.m. at the O'Connell Family Funeral Home in Hudson. Memorials preferred. www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com