Susan Gottfried

Susan J. Gottfried, 85, Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake, Iowa, died Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012 at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake.  A visitation will be held Wednesday, Nov. 28, from 4 – 7 p.m. with a time for sharing at 6:30 p.m.  Pastor Rich Murray will officiate.  Inurnment will be held at the Riverside Cemetery, Friday, 11:30 a.m., Nov. 30, with Rev. Bonser officiating.  Following the 

graveside service, family and friends will be gathering at the Moose Lodge, Marshalltown, Iowa, to share memories and have refreshments.  Memorials may be given Susan Gottfried Memorial Fund. 

Susan was born June 27, 1927 in Quarry, Iowa, the daughter of Guy and Fern (Dudley) Gummert.  She obtained her G.E.D at the age of 52 and received further education as a medical aide.  She married Ed Buchanan Sr. and to this union three children, Jane, Edward and Joyce, were born.  She later married Reuben Franklin Gottfried Sr. in 1959 and to this union they had one son, Frankie.  She moved to Ventura, Iowa, in 1995 to be closer to her family.   After she moved to Ventura she enjoyed going to family events and helping at her daughter’s café, Downtown Café, Fertile, Iowa.

Susan lived most of her life in Marshalltown where she was very active.  She was a loving care giver and worked as camp director at Pilgrim Hts. for 10 years; she was a foster parent for special need children for over 13 years; and she worked at Iowa Veterans Home and at Marshall County Home.  She loved talking on the CB and her handle was Gypsy Lady.  She enjoyed having her children and grandchildren to her house where she always had a treasure keepsake for them and looking for four leaf clovers.  She was well known as the woman with a flower in her hair.  Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandbabies.   Susan took people under her wing and enjoyed being needed.

Susan is survived by her children, Jane Ramon and her husband, Al, Fertile, Edward Buchanan Jr. and his wife, Jan, Lake Mills, Iowa, Joyce Hanson and her husband, Mike, Ventura, Iowa, and Frankie Gottfried, Clear Lake; six grandchildren, Laurie Buchanan and special friend, Dan Bolz, Mason City, Iowa, Alvino Ramon and his wife, Mary, Nora Springs, Iowa, Julie Grell and her husband, Doug, Thornton, Iowa, Jeremy Buchanan and his special friend, Krista Carlson, Belmond, Iowa, Ryan Buchanan Waterloo, Iowa, and Tammy Ramon-Young and her husband, Dan, Nora Springs, Iowa; 10 great-grandchildren; five sisters, Fern Mull, Marshalltown, Gladys Long, Gilman, Iowa, Edith Pothast, Van Cleve, Iowa, Margaret Judge, Marshalltown, and Emma Richardson and her husband, Duane, Marshalltown; many nieces and nephews; and extended family, Chuck Waage.    

Susan was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; grandson, Mark Buchanan; and two sisters, Ruth Spencer and Virginia Stallwood.  

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.