Susan Guess

Susan (Peavey) Guess, 64, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2022, surrounded by her family.

Sue was the daughter of Miriam and Melvin Peavey. She was born and raised in Everett, Massachusetts, graduated from Everett High School, and then attended Salem State University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. After college, she worked as a nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital in the ICU, CCU, and RICU units. Sue met her husband Mark in 1983 in Harwich, Massachusetts, and moved to Iowa in 1984 and worked at Methodist Hospital in CCU. Sue and Mark were married in 1986 and welcomed their daughter Kathryn in 1989.

Sue was not one to let the grass grow under her feet. She enjoyed cross-country skiing, hiking, biking, walking her dogs, and enjoying the fall colors in Minnesota with Mark. Two of her favorite activities were attending Kathryn’s athletic events, and tailgating with Mark and their friends at Iowa Hawkeye football games.

She returned to college and earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Drake University in 1999, and taught nursing in both the Methodist School of Nursing and Grandview College of Nursing. She then went to work for the Des Moines Public Schools as a school nurse. In retirement, Sue took up quilting. She created many meaningful pieces for her friends and family. Sue was also an avid reader of World War II history, true crime, and mystery.

Sue will be missed by Mark, her husband of 36 years, and her daughter Kathryn (Hilary). She will also be missed by her brother Ken (Betty) Peavey of Peabody, MA, sister Nancy Gallagher of Tewksbury, MA, and six nieces and nephews. Her in-laws Harold & Doris Guess, Julie Guess, and Suzanne Guess (Wayne) will miss her laugh and her accent when she returned from trips to Boston. Sue also leaves behind her two puppies, Maura and Declan.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents Miriam and Melvin Peavey, and her brother-in-law Bruce Wilson.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 2 p.m., August 6, 2022, at Sunset Memorial Gardens (7601 Fleur Drive, Des Moines). Flowers are welcome; alternatively, contributions can be made in Sue’s name to these organizations that were important to her: Animal Rescue League of Iowa, the Alzheimer’s Association, or the American Diabetes Association.

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