Obituary of Susan Sorheim

Susan "Sue" Sorheim, age 79 of Golden Valley, passed away peacefully May 4th, 2023 surrounded by family at home after a long battle with Alzheimer's; 45 days shy of her 80th birthday.

Sue was born June 18th, 1943 to Sheldon and Gunhild Ostroot.

Preceded in death by her parents; her sister Nathalie Ostroot  and brother in law Wayne Snyder.

She is survived by her husband, Jerry, of nearly 50 years; son, Jeff (Tammy); son Chris (Robin), grandchildren Chance, Andrew & Lilyan; brother Bob Ostroot (Jan); Sister-in-law Bev Starkey (Richard Weltzin); several nephews and their familes as well as many friends, colleagues and former students.

Sue and Jerry met nearly 75 years ago in kindergarten! Sue grew up in Golden Valley and graduated from Golden Valley High School, where she discovered German, in 1961. Sue decided very early on that she wished to pursue a career in education and made it her life's passion teaching German. Sue went on to attend the University of MN graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1965. Sue moved to Germany for the next 18 months working and living in Rotenburg. Sue returned from Germany and attended graduate school at the University of MN. Sue started teaching German in Robbinsdale Schools in 1969. Sue and Jerry were married June 16th of 1973 and lived in Colorado for the first year of their lives together.  Their kitchen window looked out over the Continental Divide and Sue really enjoyed the majestic setting living in the mountains. After returning to Minnesota, Sue resumed working for Robbinsdale Schools teaching German until 1980. Sue then moved to North Hennepin Community College and devoted the next 27 years to her students there while also earning her Master's Degree in Education from the University of St. Thomas. Sue took groups of students to Germany for tours every five to seven years and then would travel around Germany or other parts of Europe visiting friends or family. Sue believed very strongly in the community college model and was extremely proud of her time there. Sue effortlessly connected with her students and cherished those interactions.  

Sue was an educator her entire career.  She discovered German in her youth and made it her passion. She taught German in Robbinsdale schools for 10 years prior to moving to North Hennepin Community College in the early 80s.  She believed very strongly in the community college setting and devoted the next 26 years to teaching German and ESOL to her students. Sue would take groups of students on European tours of the Germanic speaking countries every 5-7 years and even lived in Germany for 18 months in between graduating from the Univ of MN in 1965 with her bachelor's degree and returning to Minnesota to attend graduate school and becoming a teaching assistant at the Univ. of MN. Ultimately earning a Master's Degree in Education from the Univ. of St Thomas in 1989. Sue was very proud of the impact she made on her students and never took that for granted.  Sue seemed to connect effortlessly with her students and was genuinely interested in their success. Sue also spent many years involved in Phi Theta Kappa. Sue decided to retire in 2007. 

Jerry and Sue lived in Golden Valley, in the house Jerry grew up in and remains in today, beginning in 1976. They raised their two sons in that home making them the fourth generation of family in that house.  Sue and Jerry always enjoyed traveling and traveled frequently, seeing 48 states as well as two extensive trips to Europe covering 10 countries. Sue would attend one or two education conferences a year often in cities all over the country and that often meant a family trip to that and surrounding areas. Stammtisch was a group that got together to speak German over lunch once a week and enjoyed that revolving group of people for many years. Sue and Jerry watched their grandchild for several months when he was very young and seemed to enjoy just about every minute of that precious time. As the years went by, Sue and Jerry would get together with friends whenever possible and enjoyed spending time together just enjoying life. Sadly, Sue's health issues started impacting their lives but Jerry stayed right by her side  eventually becoming her full time caregiver. Jerry spent many years as a full-time caregiver addressing all of Sue's needs thus providing inspiration to anyone that saw all the things he did for her! It would be hard to imagine anyone doing a better job of loving and caring for another person! Sadly, Sue passed away 43 days shy of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Sue's infectious laugh, amazing ability to make everyone she cared about feel special and her endless support of those she surrounded herself with endeared her to us all. She always seemed to have time to help those she cared about. Sue was very crafty and made all sorts of things to share with people often personalizing these things to the recipient. Sue also enjoyed baking and creating desserts that she was "famous" for.  Her Black Forest Cherry Cake, obsttorte and Bundt cakes; she always enjoyed making others smile. Sue is already missed greatly by her family but are comforted by the fact that she is no longer struggling. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer people make donations to the Alzheimer's Society or another charitable program in her honor.

There will be an open house Celebration of Life for Sue on June 17th, 2023 (the day after what would have been Sue and Jerry's 50th wedding anniversary and a day before what would have been Sue's 80th birthday) at her son Chris's house from 1-3pm. If you need further information, directions or other information the family has set up an email address to correspond through.  That email address is: suesorheim@gmail.com