Theara Sue Werschey Obituary (1944 - 2025)

LINCOLN - Theara Sue Werschey, best known as Sue, of Lincoln, IL., left this world behind and entered into her eternal life at 4:41 AM, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at home surrounded by her family. Sue came into this world as the youngest of six children born to Bertram Wesley and Rosalind Modena (Best) Gillum Sr. on July 27, 1944, in Mt Erie, IL. At the age of 4, the family moved to Mt. Pulaski, where she attended school. She graduated from Mt Pulaski High School in 1962. Sue met her soul mate, J. Michael “Mike” Werschey in April of 1963 in the A&W parking lot in Lincoln. They married on November 16th that same year. They made their home in Lincoln where they raised their family in the house they built in Flamingo Heights subdivision. Sue is survived by her husband, Mike: three children: Tami (Fred) Kessinger of Middletown, Tonya Collier (Dave Leinweber) of Mt Pulaski, and Michael (Mary) Werschey of Wasilla, Alaska. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren, with 2 more great-grandchildren arriving soon. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law: Fern Gillum, Kathleen Gillum; and her life-long best friend: Freda Gibbs, known to Sue’s children as Aunt Freda. Sue was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers: Bertram W. Gillum Jr, Donald W. Gillum, Paul W. Gillum, and Jerry W. Gillum; one sister: Shirley J Gill; two sisters-in-law: Obdulia “Lula” Gillum and Penny L (Werschey) Moore; and one brother-in-law: Glenn Richard Gill Sr. She will be sadly missed by her brothers and sisters-in-law: Terry Moore, John (Dixie) Werschey, Taffy (Bill) DeJarnette, David (Sharyn) Werschey, Kalyn (Jay) Berglin, their extended families, and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins. Sue was known throughout the Mt Pulaski and Lincoln communities for the many different places she worked at over the course of her life. As a teenager she worked at Frazier’s and the Bowling Alley in Mt. Pulaski. She worked in dietary at the old ALMH, the Sears store in Lincoln, and Western Auto in Lincoln, before working at First National Bank et al until becoming Regions Bank in Lincoln. She then worked in the office for Hursh TV before working at Family Medical Center in Lincoln for thirteen years before retiring. In retirement she was a party coordinator at the Oasis Senior Center for a few years and babysat for some of her great-grandchildren. Family was very important to Sue. She loved spending time with her family, always making certain that her children were taken on a yearly summer vacation while growing up. All of her grandkids held a special place in her heart. She helped to form the support group in Lincoln for the families of military personnel during Operation Desert Shield/Storm, throwing welcome home parties for each one as they came home. She loved traveling to Alaska to visit her son’s family. She loved cooking and baking, collecting stamps, coins, and antiques, was a devoted Elvis fan, and had a very large collection of records from the 50’s and 60’s. Sue’s service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, March 1st, 2025, at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Mt Pulaski. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00pm on Friday, February 28th, also at the funeral home. Burial will follow the service on Saturday at Mt. Pulaski Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, The Alzheimer’s Association, or Lincoln First United Methodist Church.