Susan Given Karickhoff died in Kokomo, Indiana on February 24, 2025. She was born April 3, 1933, to Joubert and Mary (Sleeth) Given at Dyer, West Virginia. She graduated from West Virginia Weslyn College in the class of 1955 and married Michael Karickhoff on August 19, 1954.
In her long career as a caring educator, Sue taught in elementary schools in Silver Spring, Maryland; Circleville, Ohio; and Steger, Illinois. She also worked for a brief period in the Agricultural Economics Department at Purdue University. Sue was for many years an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Buckhannon, West Virginia and enjoyed memberships in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Buckhannon Women’s Club, the College Club, Literacy Volunteers of Upshur County, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and the National Education Association.
Through these varied groups, Sue organized and helped carry out projects that bettered her local community and made a difference in the lives of people around her. She also enjoyed a good game of bridge, other card games, watching the stock market fluctuate, cheering at West Virginia Mountaineer football games, playing ragtime piano and petting a friendly cat.
Sue was predeceased by her husband and best friend of sixty-two years, Dr. Michael Karickhoff, as well as by her parents, her sister Jean Gum Goode and her brother, Charles Given. Her absence will be felt keenly by those who survive her, including her son Michael Karickhoff and his wife, Kelly, of Kokomo, Indiana, and daughter Susan Pawlicki, of St. Joseph, Illinois. She is also survived by her granddaughters Laurel Montealegre (Fernando) of Santa Maria, California; Ashley Paramoure of Westfield, Indiana; Emily Pawlicki of St. Joseph, Illinois; Sarah Pawlicki of Springfield, Illinois; Taylor Dicken of Kokomo, Indiana; and Madison (Devin) Schacht of Kokomo, Indiana, as well as by her sister Rebecca (Raymond) Morris of Williwick, Ohio and eleven great-grandchildren.
A funeral service celebrating Susan’s life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Meadows officiating. A committal service and burial will follow in Heavner Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Crosslines, 68 College Avenue, Buckhannon, West Virginia, 26201.
Online condolences may be made at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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