Susan “The Suze” Lee Roberts
Susan Lee Roberts, née Borchers, 85 of Green Bay, Wisconsin, lost her battle with COVID-19, on December 18, 2021. She passed — surrounded by her loving family — at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay. Sue, who many in her family affectionately called The Suze, was the joyful matriarch of a large family that includes many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was born on June 8, 1936, in Green Bay to Irene Borchers, née Lee, and Joseph Borchers. Sue graduated from West High School in 1954. She went on to work at H.C. Prange Co. department store.
At Prange’s, a coworker named Henrietta Roberts introduced Sue to her son William “Bill” Roberts, Jr. Bill and Sue had their first date at Rock Falls Supper Club in Dyckesville, Wisconsin on a Friday night. Their second date was also at Rock Falls, the very next night. The dates were the beginning of a life of closely held traditions and habits. Bill and Sue were married on September 8, 1956, at Grace Lutheran Church in Green Bay. The pair had a loving marriage of 53 years that was full of laughs, until he passed away in 2010 at age 75.
Sue was a talker who was always ready with a story. She excelled as a bank teller, first for Kellogg Bank and then Associated Bank, where she worked until retirement. She also had memorable stints as a crossing guard and as a cashier at Festival Foods after retiring from the bank.
Sue took a lot of good-hearted ribbing over the years. Her verbal crutches like “whatchacome” were constantly peppered into family conversations. Sue was the center of jokes because she was at the center of our lives. She and Bill were constants in their grandchildren’s lives — road-tripping to baseball games in Iowa, football games in Pennsylvania, hockey, baseball and softball games all over Wisconsin and more.
Sue is survived by her four children: Robin (Tim) Wahlers, Green Bay; Jay (Lori) Roberts, Green Bay; Tom (Dawn) Roberts, Green Bay and Holly (Dan) Bittner, Oshkosh.
Twelve grandchildren: Jason (Jennifer) Wahlers, Ryne (Jennifer) Wahlers and Ian (Sara) Wahlers; Adam (Liz) Roberts, Jacob (Analicia) Roberts and Kaitlyn (Mitchell) Vetsch, née Roberts; Alex (Hannah) Roberts; Brett Bittner, Maddie (Charlie) Noone née Bittner, Mollie Bittner and Max Bittner.
Eleven great grandchildren: Henry Wahlers, Harper Wahlers, Isla Wahlers, Benny Wahlers, Ellie Wahlers, Jack Wahlers, Emerson Roberts, Parker Roberts, Eddie Roberts, Annie Wahlers and Beckett Vetsch.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents Irene and Joe, her husband Bill and her grandson David Roberts.
The family will gather for a Private Memorial at Proko-Wall Funeral Home. A party in honor of Sue — as she asked us to do — will follow the memorial service. Online condolences may be sent to Sue’s family at www.prokowall.com. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Green Bay Family Services (familyservicesnew.org) or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (stjude.org).
The family extends their warmest thanks to the nursing staff and doctors in the Bellin Covid Unit. Your compassion and care was seen and deeply appreciated.