Susan Lau

On Saturday, May 24, 2025, our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, called Susan Elizabeth Lau (nee Lippert) to her eternal rest after a year-long struggle with dementia. Susan resided in Eau Claire, WI and was age 85.

Susan was born on September 19, 1939, in Milwaukee, WI to Elmer and Mary (nee Ochs) Lippert. She was baptized at Bethel Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI on November 26, 1939 by Pastor Walter Hoenecke. Susan attended grade school in Milwaukee, WI. She was also confirmed in her Christian Faith at Bethel Lutheran Church on May 24,1953 by Pastor Gerhard Schmeling. She attended West Division High School in Milwaukee, WI, and graduated in 1957 in a class of hundreds of students as the Salutatorian. After graduation, she attended nursing school in Milwaukee, WI, and worked as an LPN and a surgical nurse. She worked as an LPN off and on throughout her adult life, mostly in nursing homes. Her compassion for the elderly in her care was evident to all who saw her at work.

Susan married David Lau on June 3, 1960 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI. The Lord blessed them with five children: James, Anne, Joseph, Nathan and Sarah. Throughout her married life, she was a pastor's wife who lived in the Milwaukee, WI area; Bowdle, SD; Okabena, MN; Red Wing, MN; and finally, Eau Claire, WI. She was also a professor's wife while David was on the faculty at Immanuel Lutheran High School, College, and Seminary in Eau Claire, WI. She also spent many years working at that school's office.

Susan was very active in the various Lutheran Churches in which she was a member. She served as pianist and organist, was secretary of several ladies aid groups, visited shut-ins and sang in many church choirs. Susan loved to take walks and enjoyed reading and writing. She also did canning/freezing from the garden harvest. She enjoyed daytrips with David to state and county parks. Over the course of 20 years, she helped in the homeschooling of Nathan and Jessica's children in a variety of ways and subjects, with each child looking forward to their weekly "Grandma Day" spent with Grandma and Grandpa at their house. Susan loved a good bargain and bought things for the grandchildren all year long to stockpile for birthdays and Christmas.

Over the last 10 years Susan struggled with several physical ailments, many due to the fact that she was struck as a pedestrian in a crosswalk by an automobile in 2015. She was airlifted to Mayo in Rochester, MN and required brain surgery in Eau Claire. Through this all she persevered with the help of God and remained positive despite this difficult trial in her life.

Susan will be greatly missed by all her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, other relatives and friends, especially church friends. She was a member of Morning Star Lutheran Church in Fairchild, WI for most of the last 15 years except for the last year of her life, when she was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, WI.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents; her husband's parents; her husband of nearly 64 years, David; brother-in-law, Robert Zink; brother and sister-in-law Bill and Margaret Muhleka, brother-in-law John Lau, and Sister-in-law Rhoda Krause.

She is survived by her 5 children and families; son James Lau (Laurie) of Eau Claire, WI, and their children Marie Moua (Moses) and Katie Kelsey (Mark); daughter Anne Burns (Tim) of Eau Claire, WI and their children Tony, Alex (fiancée Ashley), Madelyn; son Joseph Lau (Julie) Eau Claire, WI, and their children Stephanie Knutson (Luke), Heidi Brown (Lucas), Darin (fiancée Ally), Daniel (Jenna); son Nathan Lau (Jessica) of Eau Claire, WI and their children Brett (Savanna), Henry (Stephanie), Andrew, Lydia, Alice; daughter Sarah Schaller (David) of Eau Claire, WI and their children Martha Dzakowic (Mason), Laura, Simeon; sister Jean Zink, brother John Lippert (Mary), sister-in-law Dorothy Lau, brother-in-law Gordon Krause; seven great grandchildren: Anastasia Kelsey, Clementine Kelsey, Charlotte Burns, Nora Knutson, Ryan Knutson, Reece Brown, Elias Lau; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at Messiah Lutheran Church, 2015 N Hastings Way, Eau Claire with Pastors Chad Seybt and Mark Bernthal officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Burial will take place at Prairie View Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.

Stokes, Prock & Mundt Funeral Chapel, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.stokesprockandmundt.com.