Susie (Sue) Y. Schlienz, 81, formerly of Solon, died peacefully on Monday, October 29, 2018 at Pinicon Place in Anamosa. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at The Avacentre at Brosh Chapel in Solon, located at 100 South Cedar Street.

Sue was born August 22, 1937 in Mancelona, Michigan the daughter of Fay and Josephine (Moss) Schlienz. She attended Hartland High School in Hartland, Michigan  and then went on to be a switchboard operator at Bell Telephone in Washington, DC. Sue then enlisted  and served her country in the Air Force. After her discharge from the Air Force, she moved to Iowa and earned a Master's Degree in Pediatric Nursing from the University of Iowa and was a traveling nurse for many years. Sue fell in love with the Iowa countryside and ended up buying a piece of land in Solon, IA where her next adventure began. She started up Briar Creek Dog Kennel and started boarding dogs for customers including one of her favorite customers (University of Iowa football coach, Hayden Fry). Her love for dogs didn't stop there as she became a professional dog handler and began showing and breeding dogs. Her love for dogs sustained her and kept her in business until she officially retired from the dog business in 2006.

Sue is survived by a sister, Nancy Osborn of Flint, Michigan and numerous nieces and nephews including Beverly Wilsey Smith of South Haven, MI and Roger Mitchell of Thonotosassa, FL who were not only her niece and nephew but wonderful friends as well. Michaela Davis was also a very special person to Sue who she loved very much. She is also survived by dear friends, Merrilee and Dean Smyth who were her caretakers in the last few years of her life.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Fay and Josephine Schlienz and her siblings, Alice Wood, Gordon Schlienz, Shirley Wilsey, Gertrude Coppler, Doris Brothers, Wayne Schlienz, Clifford Schlienz, Eleanor Mitchell, Richard Schlienz and Lawrence Schlienz.

Sue's family would also like to thank the staff at Pinicon Place for the wonderful care given to Sue while she was there. And a very special thanks to Barbara Jackson who went above and beyond to make Sue's last 20 months a time of friendship, laughter, hugs, a shoulder to cry on and lots of chocolate kisses!

Memorials may be directed to the family.