STOUGHTON - Suzanne Catherine Walkowiak Rice of Stoughton, Wis., died on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Stoughton Hospital following surgery.

Suzanne was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on March 5, 1944, to Edward L. Walkowiak and Catherine M. (Kertz) Walkowiak. The youngest of three, her childhood was full of family, good food, singing, and general hilarity on Green Bay Avenue. In her late teens, her parents built a house in Brookfield, Wis., and she attended Menomonee Falls High School, from which she graduated in 1961. After graduation, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she worked in the Bursar’s Office and enjoyed attending class. It was in French class where she met David Rice from Connecticut, and she would say she set eyes on him and found the courage to ask him if he needed help studying. They married in 1964 after a road trip to the Rose Bowl to cheer on the Badgers.

She and Dave welcomed Eric in 1964 and Sheri in 1967, living in New Berlin, Greenfield, and finally Oconomowoc, Wis., for over a decade, where she worked at Farmer’s Exchange clothing store. They loved small town life and after a brief foray to Pennsylvania, moved home to Wisconsin and settled in Stoughton in 1995.

Suzanne loved genealogy and researched her family lineage back hundreds of years. She contributed to online research and shared what she had discovered with other genealogists. She also published useful “how-to” guides for others who wanted to do the same for their families. Suzanne and Dave were active with cat rescue organizations including SCAA and Country Animal Haven. They donated generously to many animal rescue organizations, and fostered kittens whenever possible. Suzanne was a poet at heart, publishing her writing for many years. An avid reader, she had a natural gift for words which she passed on to her children. Suzanne also loved to garden, thrift shop and cook.

Suzanne is survived by her daughter, Sheri (Tim Lightner) Rice; sister, Barbara (George) Sparr; brother, Alex Walkowiak; nephews, Josh Walkowiak, Luke Walkowiak and Justin Sparr (fiancé, Salpi Dunlap) and his children, Raine and Dash; and niece, Jessica Sparr. She is also survived by her late niece Kathy’s children, Kaz and Kallia Walkowiak; and close friend, Mary Gunderson. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dave; son, Eric in March of this year; nieces, Laura Rice and Kathy Walkowiak; and nephew, Jason Walkowiak.

A family celebration of life will be held at home. Memorial donations may be made in her name to Country Animal Haven of Stoughton or Second Chance Animal Advocates of Stoughton. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Stoughton

Funeral & Cremation Care

1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St.

(608) 873-4590

Suzanne Rice

March 05, 1944 - August 05, 2026

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