Suzanne (King) Hauserman, 104, died Wednesday morning, November 1, 2023, at the Leonardville Nursing Home. Suzanne was born on June 2, 1919, the daughter of George and Clara (Sanneman) King and she was raised with two brothers and one sister on the family farm in the Garfield Township.
Suzanne attended the Idylwild Grade School, only a mile from their home, and after graduation from Clay Center Community High School, became a teacher at this same school for all 8 grades. She mentioned some of the eighth-grade boys were bigger than she was. They would help her get the fire started in the coal stove early on cold mornings. She was a creative and energetic young teacher.
On May 5, 1940, Suzanne married Kenneth R. Hauserman. They were married for 57 years and worked together as partners in the farming operation. They raised their three children in Clay Center: Gail Hauserman (Karen), Vicky Harris and Jane Siebert.
Suzanne continued living in the home after Kenneth’s death in 2007, until she was 98. When she entered the Leonardville Nursing Home she told family and friends, “I never expected to live this long”, and as every year passed, she would shake her head and tell everyone, “I guess I’m still kicking”. We contribute her long life to the devoted care she received at the LNH and the dedicated regular visits from her daughter Vicky.
It is not easy to live to be 104, but Suzanne met each physical health challenge with stamina and a strong will to carry on. She was kind to the staff, and they loved her like a grandma. She always remembered to say “thank you” for all they did for her.
When Suzanne turned 85 her grandchildren put together a book called “The 85 Things We Love About You”. They managed to capture her love of cooking, her welcoming hospitality, her wit and humor, and her ability to make them all feel special. Number 85 rounded out her legacy and character: wise, humble, generous, servant’s heart, full of love, honest, pure, and kind.
Suzanne’s seven grandchildren: Chris Hauserman (Anjanette), Jill Mugler (Marlin), Paula Brown (Darren), Jason Harris (Paige), Suzanne Otta (Chris), Casana Siebert (Emily), and Andrew Siebert (Amy); brought special joy to Suzanne with 15 great grandchildren.
Suzanne was preceded in death by her husband, parents, son-in-law Jim Harris, brothers Hilton and Robert, and sister Helen Doyle.
A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home in Clay Center, Kansas.
Memorials may be made to the Leonardville Nursing Home, Leonardville, Ks. and the Clay Center Zoo Aviary, Clay Center, Ks., which was donated by the family in 2022 to honor Suzanne’s love of birds and taking her grandchildren to the zoo.
