Sue Ellen Crosby

A Celebration of Life Gathering for Sue Crosby, age 75, of Lake Park, will be held Sunday, July 28, 2024, from 1:00-3:00 PM at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.

Sue Ellen Crosby was born on November 26, 1948, to James and Shirley (Lilly) Mansfield in Akron, Iowa. She passed away peacefully June 29, 2024 from cancer.

She attended and graduated school in Westfield, Iowa, and she was always proud of her Westfield roots. In 1970 she married John H. Crosby, Jr and began life together on the Crosby family farm. Their marriage brought forth two children to their family, Trisha and Johnny. 

Sue thoroughly enjoyed children. She babysat several neighborhood children before settling in with her own grandchildren. All the children enjoyed happy adventures on the farm. After babysitting her grandchildren, she went on to babysit more neighborhood children, which once again brought many special memories. Sue had a special magic at the lunch table where the kids would stay seated until she was done with her lunch. Later she would use a unique jingle to signal the children that it was time to pick up toys. She even went on to babysit the neighborhood's children's children. It was a special circle of love she brought to her grandchildren and the neighborhood children. 

Sue raised her very pampered named sheep as long as she could. She would travel to Ames to join her sister, her nephews and nieces to cheer on the ISU Cyclones. She took great pleasure in singing Sweet Caroline with the crowds there. At her grandchildren's sporting events when Sweet Caroline would play, Sue's arms would be in the air while singing along. In her free time, she enjoyed her vegetable and flower gardens, quilting, biking and five o'clock's with the Gaths. 

In her cancer journey, it was found that she had a rare gene mutation. This finding will help in future cancer research.

 She is survived by her children, daughter Trisha (Kirk) Ingham and son Johnny (Kelly) Crosby; treasured grandchildren, Charlie, Zella and DJ; sister Kay Rosacker as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and special neighbors; Dan and Marilyn Gath and their family.

She is preceded in death by her husband, John H. Crosby, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established to benefit Harris Lake Park Athletic and Music Departments.