Susan Dykstra

Susan Dorrance Dykstra, 79, of Platteville, passed away from complications of Alzheimer's on Friday, June 9, 2017 while resting comfortably at home with family.  Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at the Platteville United Methodist Church.  Rev. Brenda Whitford will officiate.  Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday, at the church.  Memorials may be made to the Susan Dykstra Memorial Fund.  Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Susan grew up in Bluffton, Indiana, attended college at DePaul University and graduated from St. Luke's Presbyterian School of Nursing in the spring of 1960.  She went on to practice nursing in Chicago, LeGrande, Oregon, and Fayetteville, Arkansas, while her husband, Jay, completed his PhD.  Jay and Susan moved to Platteville in the summer of 1968, where Jay joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Susan managed the household with their two children.  She volunteered on many organizations in the community, including Chapter CT of PEO, the Wisconsin Nurses Association, and the United Methodist Church, in addition to teaching 3^rd and 4^th grade Sunday school.  Eventually, she returned to nursing, spending 20 years in geriatric nursing at Parkview Terrace.  Susan and Jay enjoyed travelling the world and getting to know people from other cultures.  Susan was a generous and loving individual who always had room in her heart for the new people she met.  She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched.

Susan is survived by her husband, Jay; son, Nick; daughter, Laura (Eric) Thomas, and their two sons; sister, Phyllis Dorrance Bixler and brother-in-law, Paul Bixler; brother-in-law, Bill Dykstra; as well as, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.