Susan Elaine Habegger

Susan Elaine Habegger, 94, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, at The Arbors at Auburn Creek. She was born Feb. 3, 1928, in Bloomfield, Missouri, to Carroll and Mary Kelso. She and the Rev. William F. Reinking were married Aug. 18, 1951. Susan was a graduate of the Lutheran School of Nursing and served as a nurse at several hospitals, the longest tenure being at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was fluent in sign language, often called upon to assist with patients with hearing impairments. She and her husband served in deaf missions for three years in Hong Kong with their family. He preceded her in death in November 1980. She then married Dr. E. Dale Habegger Nov. 26, 1983, who died in August 2010. She lived life with gusto and served her Lord faithfully. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, reading and working crossword puzzles. She especially enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include two sons, Mark (Libbie) Reinking of Denver, Colorado, and David (Angie) Reinking of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri; three daughters, Becky (Jim) Hicks of Cape Girardeau, Debbie (Ken) Gamache of Tullahoma, Tennessee, and Ruth Piazza of St. Louis; stepson, Richard (Dionne) Habegger, and two stepdaughters, Jacque Lee (Randy) Walkerand Lisa (Fritz) Woerner, all of Indianapolis, Indiana; 14 grandchildren, Jessica (Brian) Kirstein, Andrew (Kelli) Hicks, Anna (Ryan) Payne, Beth (Casey) Luttrell, Jason (Ne) Reinking, Sarah Reinking, Kelly (John) Lovar, Christie (Jeremy) Brierley, Angie (Ryan) Baughman, Rachel (Neil) Sack, Marla (Greg) Feilner, Leah Piazza, William (Lauri) Reinking and Dani Reinking; 12 stepgrandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Susan was preceded in death by her parents; both her husbands; four brothers, Eugene, Landon, Nolan and William Kelso; a granddaughter, Monica Piazza; a stepdaughter, Mary Beth Anderson; and a stepgrandson, Travis Woerner. The family would like to express its deep gratitude to the staff at The Arbors at Autumn Creek for their excellent care for Susan over these past six years. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, with service following at 11 a.m. with the Rev. John Dehne and Vicar Tim Koehler officiating. Burial will take place at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Indianapolis at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to Lifelong Medical Care (lifelongmedical.org/donate and select “Street Medicine”) or the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).

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Susan Elaine Habegger

February 3, 1928 - August 17, 2022