Susan Marie Sealy

Susan “Sue” Marie Sealy, of Omaha, was born on November 13, 1951 to Richard D. and M. Genevieve (Wilcox) Birkel in David City, Nebraska. She graduated from Millard High School in 1969. She studied at Creighton University in Omaha for 2 years. She then went on to WRAIN (Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing) in Bethesda, Maryland, where she graduated as an Army Nurse, First Lieutenant. She served in that capacity at two locations in Colorado. She also served a year in Seoul, South Korea. After the Army, she continued her career as an Emergency Room nurse, in Colorado and at various hospitals in Omaha. Her last 10 years were at the VA Emergency Room. Sue loved being outdoors: playing softball, snow skiing, racquetball, kayaking, playing catch with either a football or softball, golfing with dad. She especially loved photography and excelled at this, though you would never hear her say that. She shied away from any accolades of this gift God bestowed on her. She loved photographing birds, insects, butterflies, flowers and sunsets. She shared many of these on her Facebook page. Indoors: she loved making kolache and potato dumplings (with sauerkraut & pork) from scratch as did our mother and ancestors. She nurtured her sourdough starter, with a goal of achieving the best loaf ever! Family & friends were recipients of her gift of a loaf of fresh bread and kolache. Oh....and then there were her salted-chocolate chip cookies!

Sue went home to be with Jesus, our Lord and Savior, on December 6, 2023 in Omaha, NE at the age of 72 years. She passed just 15 days following the diagnosis of a rare, aggressive blood cancer, Plasma Cell Leukemia.

She is survived by her three sons: Matthew Sealy (of Lincoln, NE) (Stacey Miller, Omaha, NE.), Mark Sealy (of Key West, FL.), and Rocael (Rocky) Sealy of Omaha, NE.; Grandchildren: Morgan, Keira and Paiten Sealy; Niece & nephews: Lauren Hood, Jonathan and Nicholas Birkel; Siblings: Mary Kay (Casey) Birkel, James Birkel (Nancy), and Jeffrey Birkel.

Sue is preceded in death by her parents: Richard D. and M. Genevieve (Geny) Birkel.

There are numerous other relatives, aunt, uncle, cousins, great-nephews to acknowledge as being a huge part of her family and life. Special acknowledgement to the Boys Town “Circle" of friends (dad worked at B.T., we grew up in the employee’s circle of houses); her VA doctors & coworker nurses--she loved and valued working with all of you; her church, Redeemer, where she was an active member and had cherished friends; Fred and Ginny Fate of Long Beach, CA., for keeping her west coast family members up to date. Lastly, to Hilda (Brownie) Miller of New Jersey, who became a life-long dear friend after they met and worked together in Seoul, South Korea at the 121 Evac Hospital.

In Lieu flowers, please consider a donation on Sue’s behalf to any of the following:

1. greatplains.audubon.org

2. The Jimmy Valvano organization: www.v.org

3. Redeemer Church, 13831 Industrial Road, Omaha, NE., 68137; office@redeemeromaha.org

4. Open Door Mission; opendoormission.org

A Visitation for Susan will be held Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home, 5701 Center Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68106, followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 AM. Inurnment will follow in Westlawn-Hillcrest Memorial Park.