Susan E. (Grunloh) Saigh

Susan E. Saigh, 58, of Kewanee, ended her battle with cancer on Saturday, October 15, 2016 surrounded by her loving family.  A Memorial Mass celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 am on Friday October 21st at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bradford, IL.  Father John Burns will celebrate.  Private inurnment is planned at St. John’s Cemetery in Bradford.   Memorials may be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.  As per her wishes, Cremation Rites have been accorded by Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory in Geneseo and they are assisting the family with arrangements.

She was born June 25, 1958, in Peoria, IL, the daughter of Gerald and Lucille (Luchtefeld) Grunloh. A graduate of Bradford High School, she earned her Vet Technician Certificate from Bel-Rea Institute in Denver, CO, and worked as a vet technician for the Kewanee Vet Clinic.  She married the love of her life, Charles A. Saigh, Jr., on Dec, 15, 1991, in Kewanee, IL. He preceded her in death, as did her parents and a brother-in-law, Mike Johnston.

Like St. Francis of Assisi, she had six siblings yet considered all the creatures of God as her brothers and sisters. Throughout her life, she saved and cared for countless animals. No stray animal was ever turned away; she always wanted to make an animal's life better. On her own farm, she was an ardent steward of livestock, especially her sheep.  A member of St. John Catholic Church in Galva, she viewed strangers as friends she had yet to meet, instantly setting them at ease with her honesty and empathy. She firmly believed in being sustained by faith, encouraged by hope and surrounded by love.  “My dreams are old dreams,” she believed. “Maybe they did not work out. But they are still my dreams.”  She was loved by her family and she enjoyed spending time with them.

She is survived by her sisters Vickie Johnston of Wyoming, Marsha (Rick) Smith of Bradford, Cyndi Plunkett of Oxford, WI, Norma Green of Leland, and Lorrie (Jay) Wilson of Annawan; her brother, Rod (Deb) Grunloh of Bradford; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and numerous beloved pets, including her life companions JustUs, Butterball and Little Joe.

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