On Thursday, June 4th, 2026, Susan Marie Kennedy, 88 of Vicksburg, MI, passed away at Northwoods Village. There she was greatly loved and taken care of, as if she were a family member of their own for almost 2 years from dementia and the effects of a stroke.

Sue was born on November 1st, 1937 to Charles and Annis (Smith) Rantz. An amazing daughter, wife, sister and aunt, Sue would always be around to support anyone in need or walk beside them in joy or in sorrow. Because of those qualities she had wonderful lifelong friends.

She loved to travel with her husband. They also put many miles on their motorcycle. Sue collected Hallmark Christmas ornaments, which she often gave away as gifts. She also had hundreds of Precious Moments figurines. However, her most “precious moment,” was her marriage to Richard Lee “Dick” Kennedy.

She graduated from Plainwell High School in 1956. While in high school she would meet a boy from Comstock and they would talk on the phone and write letters. He would walk or hitch hike to Plainwell to visit Sue as often as he could. On November 5, 1955, They married as soon as Sue turned 18, before he left for Korea. They were married for 69 years before Dick passed away in April of 2025.

Sue worked at the Five and Dime Thrift Stamp Store. When she got the opportunity to start at an entry level job at UpJohn she jumped at it. After 31 years she retired as the Chief of Quality Control. After Sue retired, she could not sit still and volunteered for South County Community Services with a group of disabled adults called Wednesday Winners.

Sue is preceded in death by her beloved, “Richard Lee/Dick/Dad,” also her parents, as well as all her siblings: Pat (Clarabelle) Rantz, June (Ted) VanAtta, Cal (Joan) Rantz, Eleanor (Lynn) Newberry, Don (LaVerne) Allen, Gertrude (Mel) Allen and Dorothy (John) Swetish.

Surviving are many nieces and nephews who always loved and will miss Aunt Susie very much.

Visit with family and friends on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. A Memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Internment will follow at Mt Everest Memorial Park South at 12:00 p.m.

While visiting Sue’s webpage at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please sign the guestbook and/or share a memory with the family. For those wishing to, contributions can be made in Sue’s memory to Compassus Hospice; 5136 Lovers Ln Suite 200B, Portage, MI 49002.

The family is being assisted by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society, 5975 Lovers Lane in Portage, MI 49002, (269 344-5600).