Susan Larson

Susan Larson passed away on March 5, 2026, while on hospice, after a 2-year battle with adenocarcinoma (non-smoking lung cancer). She died peacefully in the comfort of her own home surrounded by her loved ones.

A celebration of life will be held at FPC Living Faith Together (First Presbyterian Church) in Waunakee on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Visitation will be from 1 to 2:30 pm followed by a service at 2:30 pm. Light lunch to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First Presbyterian Church, Waunakee, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or American Cancer Society.

Susan Clarke Gettys Larson was born in Knoxville Tennessee on May 17, 1958, to George R Gettys and Sylvia C Gettys. She was the granddaughter of R.E. and Adaline Gettys, and Ralph and Lois Carr.

She was baptized at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church Knoxville, TN. Her spiritual journey continued throughout her life. In Madison, Wisconsin, she was a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church. She participated in numerous church activities, including serving as a youth adviser on a Mission trip to South Dakota Indian Reservation. She was in the process of seeking fellowship at First Presbyterian Church Waunakee.

She attended Sequoyah Grammer School, Webb, West High and earned her undergraduate and master’s degree in food technology at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. She is a die-hard Tennessee Vol. In college, she was a member of the Universities Dairy Products judging team and later coached the team. She went on to earn her PhD in Food Science at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul campus.

Susan lived a full life. As a child she was a Girl Scout, figure skater, intermural basketball player, and spent many hours on her pony Lady Bug. She went to summer camp and spent time hiking in the Smoke Mountains and learning to sail. Susan had the opportunity in the 8th grade to study Marine Biology and the Appalachian culture at Dauphin Island in Alabama. She also had the opportunity, one semester in high school to study in Germany as an American Field Service (AFS) exchange student.

While living in Minnesota, Susan met Steve Larson. They were married in 1986. They moved to Middleton, Wisconsin later that year and have since resided. Susan established her career in Wisconsin at Oscar Mayer in product development for 21 years. She worked on various product like Lunchables as well as other products used in the food service sector. Susan moved on to the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, for 16 years. Working with and processing Dairy products, she felt good about her contributions to some of the growth and successes at CDR.

Susan cared greatly about the people she worked with and the relationships she built. She had an appreciation for all living creators and, of course, Food Science. She could actually read the back of a food label and understand the products listed! She especially enjoyed theater and shows, going out to nice dinners with her family, and international travel. Her greatest achievements in life were raising her two sons, Trent and Nathan, and getting to be a grandmother to the light of her life grandson, Luca.

Susan is survived by her husband Steve Larson, her sons Trent Larson and Nathan Larson (Beth), her grandson Luca, her dad George Gettys, her mother Sylvia Carr Gettys Slack, her brothers G Richard Gettys (Pat) and Glenn R. Gettys (June), and her always treasured grand-dog Seabiscuit.