Susan Rachel Earl Young Adamek

   Susan passed away July 17, 2026 while under hospice care in Sterling, Illinois. Susan was born June 27th, 1940 to parents Gretchen Earl (Anscheutz) and George Harmon Earl. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin and grew up in Menomonie and Fennimore, Wisconsin alongside siblings Tom, Kathy, Joe, Emilie and Gretel Earl. Susan married Jonathan T. Young in 1959 and together they moved to Illinois and had three sons: Phillip, Evan, and Dale Young. Susan finished her college education as an adult and mother of three, graduating first with an Associate’s Degree from Blackhawk College, then in 1974 with a degree in Art and design from Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa. Shortly after, Susan embarked upon a career as an interior designer, often working with quite well known and famous folks. Through the decades of her working life-between jobs in design, Susan worked for many companies in many capacities. Upon her retirement in 2007, Susan became a neighborhood advocate in South Bend, Indiana, under a grant funded program, opening several neighborhood community centers and working with children and adults. Susan also volunteered for many years as a CASA children’s advocate in the South Bend Area courts.

   Susan maintained a quiet, deeply rooted faith, which she said was best expressed through action, not words. She believed it was important to be of service and to give back. She was extremely active in the Episcopal Church, proudly serving in kitchens, food pantries, choirs and on vestry and regional and state committees in both Illinois and Indiana. Susan also was one of the early volunteers for Angel Gowns- a group of artisans who construct beautifully handsewn funeral and bereavement gowns for newborns and infants. A community activist since the age of 13, Susan was one of the first active feminist leaders in Illinois in the 1960’s. Together with several friends, she founded a Quad city women’s group that quickly became the second Illinois chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), of which she served as both Vice President and President. She was an avid reader and learner her whole life, taking and teaching many courses annually. She was a loyal friend and was proud of many friendships she maintained, some for well over 60 years.

   Susan loved music and she was an award winning, active and driven visual artist- she maintained a steady studio practice, working in textiles and wearable art as well as in multimedia and assemblage works. She loved color and pattern, and her often biographical works are filled with wit and heart, and she often sold out her pieces at fairs and showings. Though much of her work was based in humor, Susan also used her art practice to turn an eye towards herself and her own process of healing from childhood trauma, life challenges, and aging. Susan loved the act of creating, and sharing creativity, and did so with love and abandon! It brought her tremendous joy to share her work with fellow artists and viewers alike.

   In 1999 she married Michael Adamek of South Bend, Indiana. Michael passed away in 2018. Later in Life, Susan met Larry Mears, who she lived with first in Michigan and later in Florida until his passing in 2026. The two laughed and enjoyed each other tremendously. Susan was preceded in death by her parents Edward Harmon Earl and Gretchen (Anscheutz) Earl, sister Gretel and brothers Tom and Joseph Earl, and former husband and lifelong friend, Jonathan Young. She is survived by Sisters Kathy (Richard Larson) and Emilie (Loren Anderson), foster sister Ann and sons: Phillip Young, Evan Young and Dale Young. She leaves behind a wide circle of dear friends and grandchildren Adam, Jacklyn (Zach Calsyn) and Kaitlyn Young (Drew Grunder), along with great grandchildren Gemma and Scout Calsyn.

   Cremation rites have been accorded.

   Condolences may be sent to www.schillingfuneralhome.com