Susan J. Proper

Susan J. Proper, 99 year old resident of Little Falls, MN passed away Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, August 10, 2015 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN with Father Jeremy Ploof officiating. Burial will take place at Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls, MN. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church. Susan J. Proper was born on October 15, 1915 in Swanville Township, Morrison County, MN, to the late Paul Stanek and Victoria (Kanieski) Stanek. She grew up in a small house adjacent to what is now Lindbergh State Park. Susan attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School where she graduated from the eighth grade. Immediately upon graduation she obtained employment at the Buckman Hotel in Little Falls where she worked as a maid and waitress. She was united in marriage to Leslie D. Proper on October 24th of 1936. Together they purchased a house in northeast Little Falls where she would reside for the next 70+ years. Susan and Leslie D. welcomed three children into their family, Karen Louise, Leslie James, and Gregory Paul. In 1960, Leslie D. Proper died of cancer. Susan, along with her brother-in-law, Stanley Proper then operated her late husband's business, Leslie Proper Plumbing and Heating, for the next 20 years. Susan was the business manager and would do the billing, bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, and inventory. Her hobbies included league bowling, tending to her flowers and her many collections. Family was very important to her. She was very close to her siblings and enjoyed getting together with them and talking endlessly about practically anything of interest. She was a faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church for decades. Susan is survived by her children, Karen (Ole) Skinner of Pinedale, WY, Leslie (Mary Lou) Proper of New Brighton, MN, and Greg (Juliane) Proper of Walker, MN; sisters, Mary Stockberger, Elizabeth Chaffee, Florence Kapsner and Joann (Louis) Theis; grandchildren, Steven (Jennifer) Proper, Peter (Erica) Proper, Ndi Skinner, Ntala (Kevin) Quintilio, Barbara (Kenneth) McCarthy, and Ian (Kari) Skinner; 16 great-grandchildren. Susan was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie Demorn Proper; parents, Paul and Victoria Stanek; and sisters, Helen (Alfred) Cash, Julia (William) Thielen, Agnes (William) Trafas, and Lorraine (Charles) Furnstahl.

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Susan J. Proper

October 15, 1915 - August 5, 2015