Susan Haverkamp Obituary

Susan Lucy Haverkamp

Susan Lucy Haverkamp passed away on January 23, 2025 at Majestic Pines in Grand Rapids after a difficult one-and-a-half-year struggle with end stage dementia. She was 84 years old.

Susan was born in Hibbing to Walter and Vivian (Wheatman) Crawford on September 8, 1940, the younger of two daughters. She loved school and received all of her education, except her final two years of college, in the Hibbing High School, three blocks from her childhood home. Her final two years of learning were at Bemidji State University where she earned a degree in Elementary Education.

After graduation, she taught Kindergarten in Duluth for several years prior to being married in the summer of 1964. She married Francis J. Haverkamp, also a Hibbing native, whom she had known throughout her childhood as his Aunt lived next door to her family. Upon becoming married, Susan left teaching to tackle the new adventure of being a wife and mother.

Her and Francis traveled to Naval bases in Florida, Hawaii, back to Florida, and then back home to their native Hibbing after Francis retired from the Navy in 1977. Along the way they had four children and four dogs.

Life was good.

Upon returning to Hibbing, Susan-aka-Mrs. Haverkamp, took up teaching again. She was a substitute teacher for the Hibbing School District in all of its Elementary schools and grade levels, but her passion was teaching Kindergarten. For 21 years Susan fulfilled this passion by teaching Kindergarten at St. Leos and Assumption Elementary Schools, retiring in 2007.

Throughout these years, Mom touched hundreds of young lives with kindness and understanding as she inducted her young charges into their education career. She endeavored to instill a love of learning, a sense of wonder, and the comfort of belonging. Life lessons were learned and memorable experiences were had.

Often when Mom was out and about, she would suddenly hear " Hello Mrs. Haverkamp!". She would always stop and talk and would miraculously remember who the student (often now grown), parent, or grandparent was and have a story to tell as well. Mrs. Haverkamp was One of a Kind.

Upon retirement, Susan spent most of her time at her home North of Nashwauk. She loved to make chocolate chip cookies. No one was able to stop at her house for any reason and leave without cookies in hand. This included the Letter Carrier, FedEx, UPS, and even strangers. She would make them for bake sales, snowmobile rides, community events, and friends and family. But she would only allow herself one cookie a day.

She adored her and everyone else's pets, especially her cats! Whenever she sat down, there would soon be a cat on her lap.

She had a special relationship with her Mother-in Law, Lauretta Haverkamp, particularly after losing her own Mother to dementia years earlier in 2003. After Lauretta entered Guardian Angels, Susan spent time there visiting and volunteering with her sister-in-law Patricia Stone. She also volunteered for Blessed Sacrament delivering Communion for those unable to attend Mass.

After the death of her husband Francis in 2018, Susan navigated a changed world, Covid, and developed new friendships. She could be found the second Sunday of the month at the Buck Lake Improvement Club for their monthly breakfast. She truly enjoyed all the conversations and friendships that were formed there. She also loved her travels and adventures with her daughter Sue and Dale. Dale's family welcomed her into their lives with open arms, and we will always be grateful to them.

Mom loved the little things in life: just being at home, her family and friends, her cats, doing crossword puzzles, watching Jeopardy, and feeding all the resident critters from chipmunks to ducklings. She was kind and generous, but also stepped into her recurring role as the Queen of Passive Aggressiveness when the mood struck, often with a side of critical thought.

Mom is greatly missed, but there is also great comfort in knowing that she is now at peace.

Susan is survived by her four children: James, Sue(Dale), Tom(Beth), and Cynthia(David); five grandchildren: Andrew(Kristina), Tatsiana, Matthew, Benjamin, and Mitchell; two great-grandchildren: Lukas and Blake; her sister-in-law Patricia Stone, numerous nieces and nephews, and her four cats: Goofy, Josie, Schroeder, and Chuck.

She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 54 years, Francis, her parents Walter and Vivian, her sister Pat, and her in-laws Ivan and Lauretta as well as many cherished pets.

The family would like to thank the kind and caring staff of Majestic Pines and St. Croix Hospice for the excellent care they provided Susan in her final months and days of her life. Their unwavering compassion will never be forgotten.

As Susan chose to donate her body to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, she requested that a Celebration of Life take place after cremation.

Please join the family in Celebrating Susan's life on Saturday June 14th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Buck Lake Improvement Club, 12 miles north of Nashwauk on Hwy 65. We hope to see you there.