Susan Elaine Dempsey

December 27, 1954 — March 5, 2026

Osawatomie, Kansas

Susan Elaine Dempsey, age 71, Osawatomie, Kansas, passed away Thursday, March 5, 2026.  She was born on December 27, 1954 in Houston, Texas, the daughter of Orville D. and Mary F. Meiers Sumrall. She graduated from Osawatomie High School in the Class of 1972.

Susan was united in marriage to Garrett Dempsey Jr. on February 12, 1972. He died as a result of a motor vehicle accident on September 6, 1980. Susan, along with the help of her mother in law, Marjorie "Granny" Dempsey, raised the young couple's daughters. She later married Lowell Grosskreutz. The union ended in divorce.

Susan was a member of St Phillip Neri Catholic Church and the Elks. She took great joy in attending her children's and grandchildren's activities. They were the joy of her world, along with gardening, antiquing, and watching KU Basketball.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Katie Mitzner; sister, Sharon Dela Cruz; and brothers Paul Tyrell Jr. and Chris Tyrell. Susan is survived by four daughters, Mariann Dempsey, Jamie Dees (David), Natalie Dempsey, and Emily Dempsey; a son-in-law, Jim Mitzner; seven siblings, Denis Sumrall, Kenneth Sumrall, Bryan Tyrell, Sheila Schultz, and Leslie Spitzenberger; four sisters-in-law, Rosemary Branson (Paul), Anna Workman (Bob), Helen Ogden (Gary), Catherine Smith (Les); six grandchildren, Andrew, Garrett, Avery, Jackson, Joseph, and Jessa; one great-grandchild, Holstyn; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Friday, March 13, 2026, at St. Phillip Neri Catholic Church. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Prayer service will be held 5 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home, Osawatomie, Kansas. Visitation will follow until 7 p.m.. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Osawatomie Alumni Association. Online condolences can be left at www.eddybirchard.com.

(Published in the Linn County Journal on March 9, 2026.)