Florence "Sue" McKee Wierengo's Obituary
Florence “Sue” McKee Wierengo, age 92, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 19, 2024, in Fremont, MI. She was born on October 21, 1931, to Frank and Katharine (Lacey) McKee in Muskegon, MI. Early in life, Sue spread her wings and set out to Troy, N.Y. where she received her high school education at the Emma Willard School. She continued her education on the East coast at Smith College in North Hampton, MA, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in economics. New York City became home for the next seven years for Sue, where she worked at Macy’s department store and a publishing house. She returned to Michigan, where she married the love of her life, Andrew Wierengo Jr. on November 5, 1960. Together they cherished 41 years full of love, laughter and community service. He preceded her in death on February 7, 2002.
Sue believed in the potential of Muskegon and had a calling, instilled by her parents, to be involved and serve her community. She capped off a long history of community involvement by serving as an elected Muskegon City Commissioner for two 4-year terms from 2005 to 2013. Over the many years working in Muskegon Sue held leadership positions with many local organizations including League of Women Voters, Grantsmanship Services, and the Mona Lake Watershed Council. She served as chairwoman of the Muskegon County Economic Development Commission and later as Director of the Muskegon Community Leadership Academy where she helped train many of the county’s current leaders. In all of these activities Sue brought a spirit of collaboration, integrity, humor, and “let’s get it done” to the effort and those she worked with.
Early in her career Sue had a vision to lead an effort in an emerging field of healthcare, Hospice Care, wanting to make it possible for loved ones to pass away peacefully in the comfort of their homes surrounded by family and friends. In Sue’s pioneering spirit, she founded the first local hospice organization, Hospice of Muskegon, in 1982 with the help of her good friend Pat Johnson and others. She put her heart and soul into this organization and by 1989 she was able to turn the organization over to the next generation of leadership. Years later Hospice of Muskegon became Harbor Hospice and is a thriving organization providing critical end of life care to Western Michigan families. Sue’s Hospice mission was not yet complete as she became the first director of the Michigan Hospice Organization, lobbying the Michigan Legislature and Healthcare organizations to make it easier for communities and providers to establish Hospice organizations. Her willpower and determination helped launch a service that provides support, love, and compassion for thousands of families in Muskegon and the state of Michigan.
Sue loved Muskegon and being near the water. She grew up on Muskegon Lake and raised a family with her husband, Andy on Mona Lake. Sue retired to a cottage on Beach Street along Lake Michigan where she loved entertaining family and friends, and enjoyed a glass of wine (or two) watching the water and the sunsets.
Sue was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother and steward of the greater Muskegon area, and she will be missed by many. She is survived by her two children, Frank (Barb) Wierengo and Katie (Jeff Hazy) Wierengo; step-daughter, Emmy (Peter) Koehl; 11 grandchildren, Colin Wierengo, Aaron Wierengo, Victoria (Jacob) Breitigan, Samantha Russell, Peter (Dede) Koehl, Stephen (Cindy) Koehl, Cornelia Koehl, Julia (Rick) Norton, Jane (Jason) Hart, Steffanie (Scot) Southland and Tighe Wierengo; 11 great-grandchildren; and other special people, Mary Ann (Art) Golin, mother of Steffanie and Tighe; Pat McKee, wife of brother Alan and mother of two nieces, Kathy (Brian) McKee and Mary (Bill) Hornish; nephew, Alan McKee; and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Alan and Frank McKee; step-sister Peggy (McKee) Sherman; husband, Andrew Wierengo Jr.; two step-daughters, Cornelia Wierengo and Laurel Bodine; and step-son, Andrew Wierengo III.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Sue’s honor can be made to Harbor Hospice honoring her pioneering spirit and the Muskegon Community Foundation honoring her love for her city. Her family would like to thank Anna Hunt and the staff at The Cottages in Fremont for the outstanding care and home they provided Sue in her final years. A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:30 PM on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, 1200 Seminole Rd., Muskegon, MI 49441. Arrangements entrusted to The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444. Share memories with the family at www.sytsemafh.com.
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