Susan Rothery McKeegan Guinn passed away peacefully June 17, 2026.
Born July 1, 1946 in Sacramento, Susan grew up in a military family and lived in many places in the United States as well as Germany. She learned early the gift of hospitality and the ability to connect with others. Those gifts plus the rare and precious ability to see the humanity in each and every person she met served her well as a pastor and a human being.
Susan received her Bachelor’s of Arts in social sciences from Texas Lutheran University San Antonio, her Master’s of Divinity from Austin Seminary, and was ordained a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in 1986.
Susan married Jerry Guinn on Dec. 29, 1983 in Austin, Texas, a union of great joy and shared passion for their work as Presbyterian ministers and champions for all people. The two served as a clergy couple fourteen years at Calvin Sinclaire Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Their final call was at First Presbyterian Church in Sag Harbor, New York, before retiring to Elkhorn, in 2005.
Susan’s life was one of service. She was active in her church at every level, Girl Scouting, NAACP, ACLU, the Sierra Club and especially Organizing for America, the campaign that brought the first African American to the White House. She truly lived out her Christian beliefs.
Susan is preceded in death by her parents, Rothery “Mac” and Jean McKeegan; husband Jerry; daughter Trudy; and brother-in-law Patrick. She is survived by her sister, Patricia Hoffman; sons Jerry Jr. and Jonpaul Guinn; foster daughter Kathy Henschel; granddaughter Angelica (Christopher) Zimmer, great grandchildren Liam, Dylan, and Noah; niece Katherine, nephew Ryan (Lindsay); and friends who became family: Lawrence Thomas, and Ying Stukas, her children Manny, and Neung (Ake), granddaughter Endu, Gib (Dear) and Steve (Catherine).
Known for her generosity, her loving kindness and her devotion to creating safe, inclusive and just spaces for every human on the planet, Susan was a model to others who led by example.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Girl Scouts of America, the American Civil Liberties Union, Lakeland Animal Shelter, or NAACP, in Susan’s memory.
The family would like to thank the staff at Holton Manor and St. Croix Hospice for their loving and gentle care of Susan.
A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 11 a.m. at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 216 Chandler Blvd. Burlington. Friends and Relatives may visit with the family from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Private inurnment will take place at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery at a later date.
Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com.