Obituary of Kathel Hire Suttie

Kathel Hire Suttie, 85, of Antioch, IL and formerly of Zion, IL, died August 12, 2016 at home. Kathel was born on December 13, 1930 in Zion, IL. She graduated valedictorian of the class of 1948 at Zion-Benton Township High School. Kathel graduated summa cum laude from Northwestern University with a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance. She married Burton Eugene Suttie at Grace Missionary Church on June 20, 1950 and they recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. Kathel worked for the First Savings and Loan Association of Zion and served on the ZBTHS board. She was an organist at Grace Missionary Church in Zion for over 25 years, and taught piano and organ through the Zion Conservatory of Music. She studied organ under Dr. Richard Enright of Northwestern University. She also played organ for the First Baptist Church in Waukegan, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Waukegan, and served as choir director and organist at First Presbyterian Church in Park Ridge. She is survived by her husband, Burton Suttie; daughters, Karen Lynn (Wayne) Schreck of Scottsdale, AZ, and Kay Adele (David) Fuller of Barrington, IL; Karen’s children, Dierdre Sarah (Benjamin) Woodruff, and Benjamin Allen (Lindsay) Schreck; Dierdre’s children, Britain Tennyson, Judah Allen, and Arabella Emerson Woodruff; Benjamin’s children, Lincoln Benjamin and Milo Harrison Schreck; Kay’s children, Janelle Kay (Peter) Rimmereid, and Jennifer Lynn (Gregory) Sorensen; Janelle’s children, Adelle Lynn, Micah David, Ellsie Joy Rimmereid; and Jenny’s child, Sadie Grace Sorensen; sisters, Alyce Fielden (Cleburn) McIlhany and Janet Pearl Serdar of Zion. Kathel was preceded in death by her father and mother Richard and Elsie Hire; sibling Edith Jean (and the late Arnold) Studebaker; and brother-in-law Kenneth Serdar. Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2016 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Zion Conservatory of Music, 2500 Dowie Memorial Drive, Zion, IL 60099.