VIEW OBITUARIES
Obituary-img

Susan Thurston Wasinger

September 17, 2025

To send a floral arrangement, please call our locations:
East Wichita: (316) 682-4553 | West Wichita: (316) 773-4553

Light a Candle

Add a Memory to the Timeline

Sign the Guestbook

Send Flowers

Memorial Tree Plantings

Susan Thurston Wasinger, 72, loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and retired secretary for USD 259, died Wednesday, September 17, 2025 after an almost 4-year battle with ovarian cancer.

She was born in Barre, VT to George and Alice Thurston, who raised their family on a dairy farm in Orange, VT. She attended Spaulding High and then earned her bachelor’s degree from Keene State University in New Hampshire. Later she worked for the FAA as an air traffic controller and then worked in the offices at Peterson Elementary and Benton Elementary in Wichita, KS. She was actively involved in her chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.

Visitation will be from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. Rosary will be at 10:00 am, Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am, Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.

Preceded in death by her parents, George and Alice Thurston.

Survived by her husband of over 40 years, Leon Wasinger of Wichita; son, Robert (Allison) Wasinger of The Woodlands, TX; daughter, Elizabeth (Matthew) Bergman of Prairie Village, KS; sister, Kathryn Thurston of Williamtown, VT; brother, Timothy (Tina) Thurston of Barre, VT; grandchildren, Mackenzie, Harrison, and Violet.

Memorials have been established with: Kansas Honor Flight, P.O. Box 2371, Hutchinson, KS 67504; Passageways, Ltd., 6841 W. Shade Ln #202, Wichita, KS 67212.

Services

Visitation: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Downing & Lahey West Mortuary
10515 W. Maple
Wichita, KS 67209

Add to My Calendar America/Chicago 2025-09-23 18:00:00 2025-09-23 07:00:00 SusanThurstonWasingerVisitation Visitation 10515 W. Maple,Wichita, KS 67209

Show Location on Map

Rosary: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 10:00 am

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
645 N. 119th St. W.
Wichita, KS 67235

Add to My Calendar America/Chicago 2025-09-24 10:00:00 2025-09-24 10:00:00 SusanThurstonWasingerRosary Rosary 645 N. 119th St. W.,Wichita, KS 67235

Show Location on Map

Funeral Mass: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 10:30 am

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church
645 N. 119th St. W.
Wichita, KS 67235

Add to My Calendar America/Chicago 2025-09-24 10:30:00 2025-09-24 10:30:00 SusanThurstonWasingerFuneral Mass Funeral Mass 645 N. 119th St. W.,Wichita, KS 67235

Show Location on Map

View current weather.

Charities

The family greatly appreciates donations made to these charities in Susan Thurston Wasinger 's name.

Kansas Honor Flight

P.O. Box 2371

Hutchinson,

KS

67504

Passageways, Ltd.

6841 W. Shade Ln. #202

Wichita,

KS

67212

Memories Timeline

View the Timeline Add a Memory to the Timeline

Guestbook

  3. Susan and I spent many years together from 1st grade thru 8th grade in Orange and as locker partners and friends throughout high school at SHS. She always reached out to me when she came to VT so we could catch up. I will miss her gentle laugh and kind spirit. RIP

    Reply

  4. It breaks my heart to hear Susan has lost her battle, and the chance to love on her grandchildren. I always enjoyed visiting with Susan, a “married into the family” cousin, and I loved her sweet laugh! I am completely honored that she chose Kansas Honor Flight as a memorial but not surprised as she always asked when my next flight was. Rest in eternal peace dear friend 🩷

    Reply

  5. As the mother of one of my best friends in middle/high school, Susan always welcomed us to girls’ nights with a big smile and pancakes in the morning. Love to the Wasinger family 🩷

    Reply

  6. I met Susan at Keene for the first time through my husband Ron at college. She visited us in the married students housing along with her friend MJ. We would see her off and on through the years either in Newport where we lived or travel to VT for a visit. It was always so nice to chat with her by phone and exchange Christmas cards to hear all the news. She was a wonderful friend to us and we really appreciated her calls after her diagnosis. She would reach out to comfort, us and would always end up laughing about something or other. You will be missed dear friend, our sympathies go out to the family.

    Reply

  7. I will certainly miss my sweet sweet friend, her laugh, our lunches and seeing pics of her wonderful grandchildren! She was a bright spot in my world. My love to her family ❤️🙏🏼

    Reply

  8. Susan was the best to work with, it was funny when we showed up to work dressed a like. We could order a sub and split it because we liked them the same way . It was like we found our missing piece we laughed about it a lot! I will miss our visits, but I know my friend is at peace now! God’s speed my friend! 🩷 G-9

    Reply

Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle