Susan Marie Bellin

Susan Marie Bellin (Ahrens), 67, died peacefully at home on December 10, 2020, surrounded by her family following a 4 year battle with cancer. Sue was born on December 13, 1952 to the late Lawrence and Anna (Powell) Ahrens in Appleton, WI. She was raised on a dairy farm in Valders, WI and enjoyed saving and playing with the farm cats. She loved being part of a large family with her nine siblings. Sue graduated from the Holy Family Hospital School of Nursing in Manitowoc, WI in 1975. She passionately worked as a Registered Nurse for 35 years, a career that began at Lakeview Hospital and ended at Ascension Urgent Care. She especially loved the friendships she formed with her many co-workers throughout the years. On January 23, 1976, Sue married the love of her life and best friend, James Bellin, at Faith Lutheran Church in Valders, WI. They were blessed with 4 children Mike (Anita) of Redondo Beach, CA, Sarah (Brad) Wilkinson of Minneapolis, MN, Amy (Alden) Helgeson of West Bend, WI and Bob (Megan McKay) of Whitefish Bay, WI whom they raised in Wauwatosa, WI. While raising her family, Sue was very active in her children’s activities including: Cub Scout Den Mother, Girl Scout Troop Leader, Room Mother, Halloween costume maker, baker, and always willing to have an extra kid or two at the house. She attended all the sports her kids were active in. Sue enjoyed many hobbies including quilting with her church group, sewing, knitting, baking, getting together with her lunch ladies group, traveling with friends & family, biking, running 5K’s at one point, reading, working out at the YMCA, spending time with her grandchildren, posting cat memes on Facebook, and blessing friends & family with cards for all occasions. Her proudest moments were watching her kids develop their own personalities, graduate, and start their own families. Sue served others through volunteer work at the YMCA and The Community United Methodist Church of Elm Grove, where she headed the collection of Christmas gifts for the Northcott Neighborhood House. She used her crafting skills to create knit hats for cancer patients and fidget boards for people with dementia. What will be remembered most is Sue’s smile, laugh, positivity, strength, and courage. And above all, her lifelong faith and love of the Lord that guided her through difficult times. Sue is survived by her husband of 44 years, her children and their spouses, and seven grandchildren: Mila Bellin, Gretchen and Hanna Wilkinson, Tristan and Hunter Helgeson, and Thomas and Theodore Bellin. Also surviving are her siblings: Donna Mayer of New Holstein, James Ahrens of St Naziens, Gloria Heinzen of Manitowoc, Steven Ahrens of Valders, Jeffrey Ahrens of Valders; and in laws Jerry Heinzen, Sally Ahrens, Ann and Rob Thomas, and Barb and Dave Leist, her great aunt-in-law Shirley Patzke, and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, Lawrence and Anna Ahrens and parents-in-law, Roy and Margaret Bellin; siblings Loretta Behnke, Louis Ahrens, Myron Ahrens, Keith Ahrens; and siblings-in-law Arnold Behnke, June Ahrens, Clem Mayer, Rosemary Ahrens, and Betty Ahrens. The family would like to thank the Cancer Care Team at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, WI for all their care. The Cremation Society of Waukesha is assisting the family with arrangements and a private celebration of life for immediate family. For those wishing to honor Sue, the family would suggest a donation to United Methodist Children’s Services or the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Research.