Susan Marie Gransee, age 72, of Sauk Centre, formerly of Cosmos, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children Oct. 2, 2024, due to heart and kidney failure. A Celebration of Life will be noon Sunday, Oct. 13, at Hope Crossing Church, 320 Wendell St., Paynesville, with a luncheon to follow.
Susan Marie Gransee was born June 28, 1952, in St. Paul to William and Dorothy (White) LaVainer. She was raised in her family home in Roseville with her five siblings. She graduated from Alexander-Ramsey High School in 1970. Shortly after high school, she was united in marriage to Michael Rogers and was blessed with three children — Glen, Amy and Jennifer. She loved being a mother and took great pride in making a home for her family outside of Litchfield. She worked various jobs including Bethany Nursing Home, Snyder Drug, Ben Franklin and Handi Stop gas station. She loved meeting new people and hearing their stories.
In 1989, she married Richard Gransee and gained three stepsons, Thomas “TJ”, Lee and Ricky. She filled her home with the busyness of her newly blended family of teenagers. In 1991, she was surprisingly blessed with her youngest child, James. The family moved outside of Cosmos and spent nearly 25 years in that area. She was a stay-at-home mother while her husband was a long-haul trucker. She maintained a home for the family to gather and always had an open door for everyone. She was a “second mom” to many and never turned anyone in need away. She worked at the Cosmos HeadStart as an aide and loved being around the children.
Susan enjoyed gardening, fishing, spending time with her family, playing cards and slots machines at the casino, especially Prairie’s Edge Casino. She was an active member and director of the Cosmos Community Theatre. She was a very social person and loved just talking with people. She loved baking treats and spent countless hours making cookies with her grandchildren. She always had a close pet and had special memories with Lucy, Mocha and Layla. She had very fond and special memories in Sauk Centre that started with her parents’ lake home on Sauk Lake. Over the years, she created decades long friendships there and made her retirement home in Sauk Centre. She spent her last few years traveling in the company of her friends, seeing and doing the things she enjoyed most.
Susan will be remembered for her dedication to her family and love for celebrating the holidays. She always decorated and made her home festive. She had a special love for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always wanted them all to feel special and loved. She had a knack for creating a unique bond with every person she loved.
Susan is survived by her husband, Richard Gransee; siblings, Mary, Larry (Darlene), Peggy (Ken) and Jerry (Lori); sister-in-law, Kathy; her children, Glen (Mae) Rogers, Amy (Bill) Pfeil, Jennifer (Herman) Rogers, James (Jale) Gransee; her stepchildren, Lee Gransee and Ricky Gransee; 14 grandchildren, 14 step-grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, 3 step-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, many friends and extended family members.
She is preceded in death by her parents, William and Dorothy; brother, William Jr.; stepson, Thomas “TJ”; brother-in-law, Al; and infant son, Steven.
Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Sauk Centre.
