Susan C. Milkie, 86, of Appleton, passed away Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at Primrose Retirement Community, surrounded by her loving family. Sue was born on Aug. 3, 1938, to the late Russell and Allie Cassel in Paterson, New Jersey. She attended the Latin American Institute in New York City and worked for the Pepsi-Cola Company.
On July 4, 1960, she went on a blind date with a man named Robert Milkie, set up by a co-worker. Two weeks later, they were engaged. On Nov. 23, 1960, she married Bob in a chic New York City wedding. In 1973, they moved to Burlington, so Bob could pursue his career in engineering and Sue could live out her dream of running a horse farm. They owned Milkie Stables, a 130-acre farm, for 29 years before retiring to Appleton to be with their only daughter, Carolyn, and her family.
Sue was very involved in the Wisconsin Quarter Horse Association. For many years, she was the editor of the WQHA newsletter. She also ran the Silver Dollar Quarter Horse Shows with her business partner, Mike Ellsworth, for a long time. In 2010, Sue and Bob were inducted into the Wisconsin Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame. Sue was also involved in Timberlane Association in Lake Wales, Florida, where she and Bob maintained a winter home on Lake Pierce.
One of Sue’s greatest pleasures in life was her two grandsons, Lane and Cade. She attended as many of their baseball games as possible. After Bob passed in 2016, Sue also became Cade’s partner for a fantasy football team, where they won the 2024-25 Championship.
Some of Sue’s favorite things included gourmet-cooking, birds, flower gardening, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, hosting parties in Bob’s Bar and martinis.
Sue is survived by her daughter, Carolyn (Joel) Koehler; grandchildren, Lane (Savannah Pearson) and Cade (Merima Palos) Koehler; brothers-in-law, Gene (Helen) Milkie and Mike (JoEllen) Milkie; sisters-in-law, Jane Milkie and Shortie Milkie; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members, including Jesse, Tia, Macey, and Ally Koehler, Andrea Berndt; exchange daughters Fabienne Ehresmann and Susanna Ciucci; and Carolyn’s tribe sisters.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents; her brothers-in-law, David, Butch (Duane), and Johnny (Roger) Milkie; and her sister, Nancy Condon, and brother-in-law, Irvin Condon.
Date and time for her Celebration of Life is pending. Please bring your stories and memories of Sue to share.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the entire staff at Brewster Village for her inpatient rehabilitation and Primrose Retirement Community for their loving care of Sue (and Edward the cat) especially Mia, Emma and Lacey. Also, a special thank you to Lynn Miller for pinch-hitting on Wednesdays and spending so much time with Sue.
Memorials in Sue’s name can be made to Saving Paws at the following link: www.savingpaws.com/donations.
Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit www.valleyfh.com.
-
-
-
-
-