August 6, 1945 – December 4, 2025
Mary Susan “Sue” Staudt, 80, of Charles City, IA passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Independence Village in Ames, IA, under the care of St. Croix Hospice. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, December 13, at Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt St., Charles City. She will be laid to rest in a private family burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Roseville, IA.
Sue was born August 6, 1945, the daughter of Marcella “Sally” (Strouth) and Donald Ryner. She grew up on a farm near Rudd and graduated from Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock High School in 1963. She earned a degree from Mason City Junior College in 1965 and was united in marriage to Cletus Staudt the next year, on August 18, 1966. Sue and Cletus made their home on a farm outside Marble Rock where they raised their three boys, Scott, Kyle, and Troy. Sue was a homemaker and later turned her passion for antiques, especially Depression glass, into a career. She made many connections through auctions and sold antiques and collectibles in rented spaces, online as an early eBay adopter, and from her own storefront in Nora Springs.
Music was a lifelong source of joy. Sue played several instruments and performed in multiple vocal and instrumental groups over the years. Her family remembers her playing piano by the fireplace during cold winter evenings on the farm and leading singalongs during the holidays.
Sue enjoyed competition. She played tennis for many years, often with Cletus, and participated in the annual Marble Rock Tennis Tournament held during Labor Day weekend. Later in life, she traded a tennis racket for a pickleball paddle and appreciated the friendships she made on the courts in Charles City. Sue also carried her competitive spirit to the casino, where she tested her luck playing slot machines.
She relished the company of family. Visits included playing lively card and board games and plenty of wit. Though her health prevented her from traveling far in recent years, Sue loved the opportunity to be able to livestream her grandkids’ sporting events and concerts.
Those left to cherish Sue’s memory include her two sons, Kyle (Jessica) Staudt of Glenwood, IA and Troy (Jana) Staudt of Gilbert, IA; grandchildren Alyssa (Cully) Forsyth, Kylee (Luke) Washington, Grant Staudt, Abigail Staudt, Alexis Staudt, Nicholas Staudt, Cole Staudt, and Olivia Staudt; great-grandchildren Beau Washington and Briggs Washington; and brother, Mike (Pam) Ryner. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Cletus; son, Scott; sisters, Janet Parnell and Shirley Doughty; and grandsons, Drew Lensing and Garrett Staudt.
In lieu of flowers, the family will direct memorials to local organizations that reflect Sue’s interests.
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