Suzanne Farooq Dahms, age 81, of Verona, WI, passed away on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at Agrace Hospice. She had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in April. During her time in hospice, Sue met with family, prayed with friends, and shared her positive attitude of life with everyone that she met.

Sue was born on October 19, 1942, in Peoria, Illinois, the daughter of Edward and Janet Clifford. Her mother died when Sue was 15.

Sue was one of the remaining survivors of the polio epidemic of the 1950’s. She was stricken with polio at age 16 and hospitalized in an iron lung. A near death experience, when the machine was accidentally unplugged, influenced her beliefs in life after death, and informed her devout Christianity.

Polio had a lasting effect on her body, having to undergo multiple hip and knee surgeries, and having a metal rod placed in her backbone at age 50 to keep her spine straight. As a friend from church said, “Despite all her sufferings, Sue was a joyful person.”

In the early 1960s, Sue met her future husband Dr. Masaud Farooq, with whom she would have 3 children: Michael, Yasmin, and James. The family moved from Minneapolis to Waupun Wisconsin, where they resided from 1971 to 1987, and where Dr. Farooq worked at Waupun Hospital.

Between 1976 and 1982 Sue took psychology classes at UW Fond du Lac and UW Oshkosh, earning a Master's Degree in Counseling in 1982.

Sue's first husband, Dr. Farooq, passed away in 1982. In 1986 Sue met Leonard "Bud" Dahms. They married in 1992, living in Verona until his passing in 2007.

Sue was a University Services Associate at the University of Wisconsin Chemical Engineering and Electrical Engineering departments from 1987 until her retirement in 2009.

In Verona, Sue was actively involved at Saint Christopher Catholic Parish, volunteering, lectoring, and leading rosary. She also was a local servant leader with the Widows of Prayer, and with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

During her stay in hospice, Sue's friends commented how positive she was in her last days. Sue expressed how important it is that we appreciate each day, and that we live a life in which we help others.

Sue is survived by her children and their spouses: Michael (Bertha De La Torre) Farooq, Yasmin (Roger Waterman) Farooq, James Farooq, Cele (Jerry) Blackburn, Chris (Eddie) Collum, Marie (Richard) Jaggi, and by grandchildren Marisa Farooq, Vanesa Farooq, Lisa Collum, Jessica Blackburn, JayLynn Blackburn, James Christenson, Jason Christenson, Jonathan Christenson and their families.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at ST. ANDREW CATHOLIC CHURCH, 301 N. Main Street, Verona. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., followed by a rosary, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 220 Enterprise Drive, Verona, and again on Thursday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass. Interment at Saint Andrew Catholic Cemetery.

To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Verona Chapel

220 Enterprise Drive

608-845-6625

Suzanne Dahms

October 19, 1942 - May 08, 2024

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