In Memory of Susan K. Weickum (March 28, 1948 – October 8, 2023)
We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Susan K. Weickum, who died on October 8, 2023, at the age of 75.
Susan was born on March 28, 1948, in Torrington, WY. She grew up on a farm in eastern Wyoming with her parents and four younger sisters. Growing up she was active and successful in the 4-H Club and a broad range of projects including cooking and sewing; as well as achieving excellent grades in both elementary and secondary schools.
In 1977, Susan received her Bachelor of Science in Management and Liberal Arts from Northeastern University, MA. She worked in the business world and found meaningful outlets for her talents in the voluntary political, social, and religious world. Though she was first involved with Unitarian Universalism at the UU Fellowship of Cheyenne, WY, it was in Boston that she became a member of First and Second Church (UU). She became active in adult education, denominational affairs, and church school committees; she taught church school for two years and developed a curriculum on Unitarian Universalist history. Susan realized that her fulfilling and meaningful experiences came in the context of church, Sunday school, youth group, church camps, and campus ministry. She wanted people to feel better about themselves, accept themselves, and help other people find a higher balance in living in the world. This blossomed into a professional interest in ministry leading her to pursue seminary education. In 1983, she graduated from Meadville Lombard Theological School with her Master of Divinity.
Rev. Weickum was ordained by the Second Unitarian Church, Chicago, IL on May 29, 1983. In 1984, she accepted a call from the First Unitarian Church of South Bend, IN where she served until 1989. She helped the growth of the church’s lay leadership, Board of Trustees, Sunday committee, and Finance committee. She also worked towards renovating the building and standardized the financial record keeping. Sunday services were enriched with more music and the congregation became a more caring community. Thereafter, Rev. Weickum served the UU Fellowship of Elkhart, IN as a religious educator from 1990 to 1991. Subsequently, she worked as a hospital chaplain at the Memorial Hospital of South Bend and then at the Community Hospitals of Indianapolis. During her ministry as a Hospital Chaplain, she listened to and counseled patients, and their families, along with the hospital staff. Her compassion, empathy, and understanding was boundless. From 1998 to 2023, Rev. Weickum was an affiliated community minister for the UU Fellowship of Elkhart.
Rev. Weickum was active in the denomination as a member of the UUMA, the UU Women’s Federation, and the Chicago Area Unitarian Universalist Council.
Susan was a friend and co-worker to many people. Her mission in life was to love all unconditionally. After retirement in 2014, she engaged her passion for the fine arts taking classes at Ivy Tech Community College and in the fiber arts of spinning, weaving, and knitting, with the same zest. She also enjoyed ethnic cooking, sewing, camping, theatre, travel, calligraphy, handcrafts, pottery, photography, and gardening.
Susan is survived by her husband Michael Rich; her children: Scott (Kelly) and grandsons Michael and Nicholas; Jessica Ribeiro Rich (Daniel) and granddaughter Avielle; as well as exchange daughter Mareike Dieplinger Hoermann (Georg) and her family. Susan was big sister to Patty, Diana, Janice, Sally, and their families.
A memorial service was held on November 18, 2023, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis, 615 W. 43rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of one’s own choosing.
Notes of condolence can be written here.