Susan Anne Wenninger
Born on January 31, 1946 in Chicago, IllinoisPassed away September 10, 2026 in Melbourne, Florida
Susan is the daughter of Herbert and Jean Gumz, living her early years in Chicago, Arcadia, California, and Mt. Prospect, Illinois.
She graduated from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 1968.
She is survived by her husband Roger Wenninger, whom she met and fell in love with at Capital University, her daughter Sondra A. W. Collins and her husband Michael Collins, and her sister Barbara Willis and her husband James Willis. Her surviving grandchildren include Courtney Douglas and her husband Peter Douglas, and her great-grandchildren Emery Douglas and Griffin Douglas; Michael Collins, Jr. and his wife Erika Schwarz-Collins; Candace Collins-Nordman and her husband Erik Nordman, and her great-grandchildren Levi Nordman and Lincoln Nordman; Chase Collins and his wife Kelsey Collins, and her great-grandchildren Coast Collins and Crew Collins. Her surviving family includes her niece Mele Willis and her husband Chuck Lazarus, and their child Kainalu Lazarus; her niece Lani Willis and her husband Joel Spoonheim, and their children Naia Spoonheim and Milo Spoonheim.
Susan was a dedicated elementary school music educator for 37 years, teaching in Ohio, Indiana, Broward County, and for her last 20 years in Columbia Elementary School, Palm Bay in Brevard Public Schools, Florida.
She was known for her inclusive approach to elementary music education. Every student in Susan’s music classroom experienced creating music with their voices, wind instruments, string instruments, and percussion instruments. Participation in music performances included all students, with quality and comprehensive music education permeating every part of the performance. Susan also was a proud member of the Florida Music Education Association and the Florida Elementary Music Education Association, valuing collaboration and professional learning with music educator colleagues from around the state.
Susan most cherished spending time with her family. Whether it was in person, over the phone, or over text (including many energetic bitmojis), she loved connecting with her family as often as possible. She was known in the family for her cookie making, with a signature cream cheese cut-out cookie that she and Roger made for the entire family every Christmas and for other important family events, as well as pie and cake baking. She cherished spending holidays together with as many family members as possible, and she typically always wanted those times to be documented with photos. She was also known for her thoughtful gifts that reflected the gift receiver, as well as often supporting worthy causes. And the family received a new Christmas tree ornament every year that always had her signature phrase, “Family…it’s all about LOVE!”
Susan’s hobbies were singing, walking, and everything Disney. She sang in Church choirs and the Brevard Community Chorus. She and her husband enjoyed walking at Gleason among the squirrels, doves, tortoises, and dogs. She affectionately called it “dog DisneyWorld.” She loved the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, neither of which she ever lost interest in after countless visits. Her fiftieth wedding anniversary meal was held in the castle at Disney World.
Her favorite places to visit were St. Augustine, Sanibel/Captiva, and Charleston, South Carolina, each of which had good food and large sailing schooners, in which she dearly loved to sail.
Her cheerful disposition, love of family, and grit in the face of hardship are admirable and will be treasured.
Go in peace, dear Susan. See you at the feast!
Friends planning expressions of sympathy are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Florida Music Education Association.