Susan Borger (1950 – 2012)

Susan L. Borger, age 61, a resident of Somers, WI, passed away peacefully on Friday June15, 2012 after a ten month battle with multiple myeloma. She was at home surrounded by family and friends.

Sue was born September 12, 1950 in Kenosha to the late Otto R. and Florence L. (Teegarden) Carlson. She was a graduate of Mary D. Bradford High School and the University of Wisconsin – Parkside. She married her beloved husband Darrell J. Borger on April 22, 1972 at Holy Nativity Church.

Sue’s passions included her family, travel, and the natural world. She could often be found in her front yard, comprised of native prairie plants in lieu of a traditional lawn, or working to restore the natural balance of native plant species in her woods. Sue was a lifetime member of Wild Ones, a local native plant organization. She was also a member of the Somers Park Commission, the Nature Conservancy, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Sue and Darrell shared a love of travel which took them many places across the US and the globe, especially the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a member of the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park she participated in an archeological expedition and located a lost rock carving previously only seen in archival photographs from when the Virgin Islands National Park was first established. This significant find helped establish a more accurate timeline of the colonization of the Virgin Islands. Music was another of Sue’s passions. She played bass clarinet in the Kenosha Pops Concert Band and served as the association’s president for several years.

Sue worked as a medical technologist certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists with a specialty in microbiology. She enjoyed her work with the other “Babes of Bug World” at Kenosha Hospital and Medical Center for thirty years, thirteen of those years as supervisor of microbiology.

Surviving are her loving husband Darrell, devoted children Heather L. (Chris) Edwards and Benjamin J. (Shawna) Borger, grandchildren Roane, Eamon and Astrid Borger, brothers Robert D. (Jane) Carlson, Edward G. (Elizabeth) Carlson, Steven (Lizzie) Carlson, sister Carol J. Fischer all of Kenosha and sister Shirley A. (Al Burnham) Pierce of Redstone CO and her husband’s parents Jacob and Ardith Borger.

Sue was a thoughtful, compassionate and inspirational person who will be missed and remembered always.

Visitation with the family will be on Tuesday June 19, 2012 from 6:00pm until 9:00pm at Bethany Lutheran Church in Somers.

Her memorial service will be held on Wednesday June 20, 2012 at 11:00AM at Bethany Lutheran Church in Somers with burial to follow at Sunset Ridge Cemetery.