Sue E. Bantz

   Sue Ellen Bantz, one of four children of Donald Eugene and E. Darlene (Tasler) Williams, was born July 1, 1954, at Auburn, Nebraska.  Sue grew up attending rural school in Richardson County, and then in Stella before graduating from Southeast Consolidated High School in 1972.   

   Shortly after high school, Sue was united in marriage to Steve Bantz on April 8, 1973.   The couple would be blessed with two children:  Kyle and Lacey.  They made their home in rural Stella but would later divorce.  

   Sue was a self-taught Insurance Agent.  She furthered her education after high school on her own, obtaining her insurance licensing and opening two insurance agencies, one in Falls City and one in Auburn.  Along with insurance, Sue also did book-keeping for businesses and had multiple rental properties and farm ground that she rented out.  

   When she wasn’t busy with her work, Sue enjoyed antiquing as a hobby, she also enjoyed gardening and canning her produce.  She loved cooking and making trips to the casino.  Sue adored her grandchildren and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs with them.

   With her health declining, her crew made the decision to move her from her home in Stella to the Good Samaritan in Auburn for her last 48 hours so that Lacey and Kyle could better care for her.  Her final days were beautiful.  She passed holding her children’s hands and surrounded by her loved ones…exactly as she wanted.  She was preceded in death by her parents.

   Those left to mourn her loss include her son and daughter-in-law Kyle and Mariah Bantz of Nebraska City; daughter and son-in-law Lacey and Bud Karpinski of Stella; grandchildren Clayton, Joel, and Kori Bantz, Wyett and Ty Karpinski; sister and brother-in-law Donna and Sid Lockard of Shubert; brothers and sister-in-law Bob Williams of Shubert, Bill and Linda Williams of Shubert; significant other Rodney Kirkendall of Barada; her dogs Jim, Teddy, Button, and Dixie; other relatives and friends.        

   A celebration of life will be held Sunday, January 21, 2024, 2:00 p.m. at Lacey and Bud Karpinski’s home:  71833 644 Avenue Stella, Nebraska.  A headstone will be placed in Prairie Union Cemetery near Shubert.