Susanne Marie Bicknese, 74, of Spencer, Iowa, passed away at home on August 3, 2024, after battling a lengthy illness. Many knew her as Chef “Susanne”.
Susanne was born on February 5, 1950, in Cherokee, Iowa, to Robert (Bob) and Monica (Fuller) Jensen. Her family moved from Cherokee to Storm Lake where Susanne attended Storm Lake – St. Mary’s School and graduated there in 1968.
Susanne worked many different jobs in her adult life but her passion was always cooking. That passion is what led her to start her own catering business and thus “Chef Susanne” was born. Chef Susanne was well known for her private party caterings, her wedding caterings and her favorite cooking classes at Pearson Lakes Art Center and in Sheldon, Iowa.
Susanne also loved to travel. She went on many trips to different places but her favorite spots to visit were Door County, WI and Traverse City, MI for their cherry festivals.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Monica Jensen; her paternal grandparents, Axel & Minnie Jensen; her maternal grandparents, John & Susanna Fuller; her uncles & aunts: Wilbert & Donna Godbersen, Jim & Corrine McCarthy and Gordon & Juanita Jensen; her cousins: Dan McCarthy and David Godbersen.
Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Pam Gude of Milford, IA; her nephew, Lowen Gude of Sioux Falls, SD; many cousins and friends.
A come and go Celebration of Life for Susanne will be held Saturday, August 17, from 11:00am – 2:00pm, at the Pearson Lakes Art Center (2201 Highway 71, Okoboji).
