Sue passed away peacefully on Jan. 8, 2023, just three weeks after her 99th birthday, at her home in Chicago. Her children were at her side.
Sue was born in Chicago, Dec. 20, 1923, the only child of Leon Kay and Evelyn Greenberg Kay.
Sadly, her dad died when Sue was two years old. Sue’s mom soon met and married Arthur C. “Art” Engh, Sue’s beloved stepdad. Best of all, Art came with three sons, Sue’s stepbrothers Robert A., William and Richard Engh, all of whom predeceased her.
Sue attended Hyde Park High School in Chicago and enjoyed four pre-war years of study, friends, dates, and good times, creating great memories to last a lifetime. She briefly attended the University of Wisconsin but wartime felt like a time to stick close to home.
In 1944 Sue married Julian N. Fotre Jr., her grammar school sweetheart. Second Lieutenant Fotre was a navigator in the Army Air Corps and the young newlyweds lived in Nevada and Texas, moving back to Chicago at the end of the war. Summers were spent at Paw Paw Lake, Michigan, as they had been all of Sue’s and her mother’s lives (and most of her children’s as well) at the home Sue’s grandparents Louis and Dora Greenberg, built on the Lake in 1900.
Following a divorce, Sue and her kids, Christine and Julian, moved into the house at Paw Paw Lake in 1957 with her parents. Happily, Sue met and married Gordon T. Knutson, star of Coloma football, MSU grad, happy golfer, all-round extraordinary guy and her soulmate for the next 39 years until Gordy suddenly passed away in 2001. They made Paw Paw Lake and Watervliet their home.
Sue and Gordy enjoyed a happy and full life in the company of many friends, often at the Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club where Sue’s dad, Art Engh had served as the first Commodore. Sue played golf, joined a bowling league, was a member of the Literary Guild and volunteered with the Auxiliary of the new hospital in Watervliet which Gordon was instrumental in making a reality.
Travels took the couple on cruises, to Europe with their kids, all around the U.S. and to Siesta Key, FL where they hoped to retire until Gordon’s untimely passing. Sue continued to live in her own home on Huntoon Avenue. She stayed active with many friends in Watervliet and around Paw Paw Lake, always in touch with far-flung relatives and friends punctuated by celebratory times with family and much travel. Quiet times were always spent with a book in hand.
Sue leaves behind her loving children, Christine Fotre Singer (Paul) and Julian N. Fotre III (Russanne Buchi-Fotre), four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren who admired and loved her – Andrew Fotre O’Neill (Claire), Elisabeth Kay O’Neill Monta (Dax), Laurel Buchi-Fotre Rosenfeld (Ryan), Julian Buchi-Fotre (Colby), Bennett Singer (David Deschamps) and Rachel Singer Sullivan (Jerry). And, Sue was much-loved GG to her eight great-grandchildren – Rory O’Neill, Margaret (Molly) O’Neill, James (Jamie) O’Neill, Theodore (Teddy) O’Neill, Dashiell Monta, Augustin (Augie) Monta, Lily Sullivan and Claire Sullivan.
A memorial celebration in honor of Sue’s life will be held at a later date at the Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club.
There is one more thing to know about Sue – she loved animals. Gifts in her memory may be made to: Berrien County Animal Control, 1400 S. Euclid, Benton Harbor, MI 49085 (they run a wonderful adoption facility) or Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago: support@lpzoo.org.
The family is grateful for any contributions to these worthy organizations in honor of Sue.
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