Obituary for Gwendolyn S. Mason

Gwendolyn (Gwen) Sue Mason, 91, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2026 at Mulder Health Care Facility in West Salem, WI.

Gwen was born on March 21, 1935 in Kenosha, WI to Harold and Constance Clark.  She graduated from Kenosha’s Mary D. Bradford High School in 1952 as valedictorian and a member of the National Honor Society.  She worked for the Wisconsin (and later the Illinois) Bell Telephone Company until she married.

Gwen devoted herself to caring for her family and home in Waukegan, IL.  She valued both music and education and instilled in interest in these in each of her four children, whom she had with her first husband Robert Susman.  She was a great cook, trying new recipes to share with her family, as well as sharing health tips.  Gwen loved the English language and enjoyed collecting witty sayings and singing songs.  She also created her own poetry and had a knack for solving word puzzles.

After Gwen married her second husband Odis Mason, they eventually moved to Wisconsin (Kenosha,  West Salem, and Onalaska), where she enjoyed cooking and taking care of their Pomeranian dogs, as well as their cats.

Gwen resided at Laurel Manor Assisted Living in Onalaska and then at Mulder Health Care Facility in West Salem.  Though wheelchair bound and hard of hearing in her senior years, Gwen still enjoyed playing games and singing songs with her fellow residents.

Gwen is survived by her children Barbara Susman, Rob (Christine) Susman, Rick Susman (partner Beverly), and Jim (Rachael) Susman, as well as her grandchildren Andrew Susman, Nathanael (Dianne) Susman, Mary Susman, Jonathan (Te’Auna) Susman, Naomi (Josh) Olds, Joshua Susman, Stephen Susman, Daniel Susman and four great grandchildren.

Gwen was preceded in death by Odis Mason, her mother and father, her sisters Phyllis (Clark) Fuller and Judith (Clark) Cullen, brothers-in-law Donald Fuller and John Cullen, granddaughter Sarah Susman, and former husband Robert Susman.

Mom/Grandma, we love you.

The Sletten-McKee-Hanson Funeral Home of La Crosse, Wisconsin is assisting the family with arrangements.