Section: 327S Lot: 27 Grave: 4

Obituary

After a long brave battle with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, Susan Dorette Pfaff Dickey, 69, of Burlington went to be with the Lord at 7:10 p.m., Tuesday, October 15, 2019 at the Burlington Care Center surrounded by family.
Born January 28, 1950 in Burlington, Sue was the daughter of Don George and Phyllis Jane (Baker) Pfaff. She married Randy Wayne McVay on June 4, 1972. They later divorced. She married Dennis Lee Dickey on April 23, 1993 in Burlington.
Susan was a 1968 graduate of Burlington High School, a 1972 graduate of Western Illinois University with a Bachelor's in Elementary and Special Education, and a 1992 graduate of St. Ambrose University with a Master's in Special Education.
Susan taught special education in the Early 1970's at Tri-Valley Middle School in Gladstone, Illinois. From 1976 to 1989, Sue was a homemaker raising her two boys, taught and tutored at home, sponsored refugees from war-torn Southeast Asian countries, taught ESL and CPR at Southeastern Community College, and enjoyed creating stain glass projects including one permanently on display at the First Assembly of God church in Burlington.
Susan taught Special Education in the Burlington Community School District from 1989 to 2010 at Horace Mann and James Madison Middle Schools. After retirement, she continued to tutor and do homebound teaching from 2010 to 2013.
Susan was a member of First United Methodist Church, P.E.O., ADK, Retired Teachers Association and was very active in the Al-Anon organization. Sue was in charge of several blood drives for First United Methodist Church, and donated over 24 gallons throughout her life. She also enjoyed working at the Fair Trade Market at The Loft.
Susan religiously cheered on the Chicago Cubs and joyfully enjoyed watching the Cubbies 2016 World Series victory. Sue also enjoyed watching the Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball teams. She enjoyed the time spent with friends and would never deny herself a good nap. Sue enjoyed the time she spent with her grandchildren and being grandma most of all.
Survivors include her husband, Dennis of Burlington; two sons, Jonathan (Audra) McVay of Quincy, IL and Matthew (Anika) McVay of Burlington, IA; three step-children, Lindsey Dickey, Jesse Dickey, and Michelle Dickey, all of Burlington; and now guardian angel to seven grandchildren, Ethan Garon Randall McVay of Quincy, Hayden Pfaff McVay and Kinnick Randy James McVay, both of Burlington, Elianna Dawn Noel McVay and Carter Jonathan McVay, both of Quincy, Jasper Paul Dickey of Burlington, and Gracelynn Jean McVay of Quincy.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
The funeral service for Mrs. Dickey will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 22nd at First United Methodist Church. Reverend Melisa Bracht-Wagner will officiate. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Friends may call noon-8:00 p.m. with family present for visitation 6-8:00 p.m. Monday, October 21st at Lunning Chapel.
A memorial has been established for the Susan Dickey Scholarship Fund through First United Methodist Church.