Suzanne Mccormick

Long time rural Marne resident Suzanne (Sue) McCormick passed away at home Monday morning, December 20, 2022, after a short battle with cancer. She was born on May 13, 1949 to Joseph and Alice (Sandell) Vratny in Fort Dodge, IA. She attended school in Fort Dodge, graduating from Fort Dodge Senior High in 1967 and from Iowa Central Community College in 1969.

Sue married the love of her life, Steven McCormick of Pocahontas, IA in Pocahontas on August 30, 1969.  She continued her education at Northwest Missouri State, graduating in early August 1971 with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. Later that month she gave birth to her first son. Sue returned to teaching in the 1990s, and received a Master's Degree in Education from Northwest Missouri State in 1995.

Sue's three great aspirations in life were to get married, have children, and be a school teacher. She was wildly successful in all of these regards; having been married for over 52 years, raising 3 children who gave her 7 wonderful grandchildren, and teaching for 25 years in the Griswold School district, retiring in 2015.

As an educator, Sue specialized in working with younger children, developing their reading and literacy skills, and helping educate two generations of children in Southwest Iowa. She was especially known for her passion in reading the Junie B. Jones book series to her students, changing her voice to match every character throughout the stories. Sue was a beloved co-worker and mentor to younger educators over the years.

Sue was an avid sports fan. Her favorite time of year was March Madness; she was excited when she retired so she could watch all the games. She was a diehard supporter of the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs, and follower of the Chicago Bears and Cubs; until the Cubs traded all her favorite players this past summer. Sue was also a huge Iowa Hawkeye fan, though she did secretly cheer on the Iowa State Cyclones while living in a Hawkeye household.

Sue was a wonderful cook and no family gathering was held without her potato bread rolls or sour cream raspberry pie. The annual Vratny Cousins' picnic always had her deviled eggs. Making cookies and candies during the holidays was always a time honored tradition of hers.

In the 1990's, Sue got involved in community theater with the Nishna Valley Players and was in many of their productions. She participated in the Griswold Community production of the Music Man. In her retirement, her favorite activities consisted of traveling with her husband and sister-in-law Jane McCormick to various destinations and historic sites in Iowa and elsewhere in the Midwest.

Sue is survived by her husband Steven, their children; Shannon (Lacey Eckl ) McCormick of Austin, TX; Sarah (Eric) Wendt, of Shelby, IA; and Andrew (Leah Barton) McCormick of Johnston, IA; seven grandchildren - Aidan, Emmett, Nora, Evan, Owen, Leo, and Oliver; siblings Don (Bev) Vratny of Blue Springs, MO, Mary (James) Cox of Marion, IA, and Richard (Judy) Vratny of Fort Dodge, IA; and numerous in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Sue is preceded in death by her parents. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

A celebration of life service will be planned for the spring or early summer of 2022.

Memorial contributions will be donated to the Scholastic Book Club of Griswold to purchase books for Griswold Elementary School. With your contributions, Sue's legacy and impact will live on for future generations at the beloved school she called home for 25 years.