Rebecca Joy Sukanen of Monroe, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday morning after a brief illness at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison with her family at her side. Becky is survived by her husband of 41 years, Clyde Sukanen, and by her children, C.J. (Jen), Jessica, and James and grand children James and Justin Sukanen. She is also survived by her sister Sara Peterson and brother Tim McGuire (Pat) and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and sister and brother-in-laws. Becky was preceded in death by her parents, James and Gene McGuire and her brother, James McGuire.
Becky was born July 5, 1947, in River Falls, Wisconsin. Her family moved to Chippewa Falls when she was 3 years old, then to Ashland for four years, and then Shawano where she graduated from high school in 1965. She received her under graduate degree from Northland College in 1969 where she was a cum laude scholar, and her Master's Degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.
Becky started her teaching career in Park Falls, teaching high school French and English. She put her career on hold to have and raise CJ and Jessica. Then she continued teaching high school French in Washburn. Once again, she put her career on hold to have and raise James.The family moved to Thorp in 1994, and then on to Monroe in 1997.She continued her teaching passion with ESL ( English as a Second Language). She was instrumental in getting the ESL program started in the Monroe School District where she taught K-12.
There were many other advantages she gave her ESL students. She started
Words on Wheels, a weekend literacy program for ESL parents and students, an after school program, a computer training program for parents, and was instrumental in having Parkside be a magnet school for ESL students where she taught K-5, and the Dan Bauer Bowling Bash for K-12 students.Becky donated endless hours and resources to the ESL community in Monroe. Today these programs are known as ELL (English Language Learners) whose numbers are increasing steadily.
Becky's professional world included attending the TESOL Conference in Boston this last year where she shared strategies with teachers from all over the world. Becky who was one of the original authors was chosen as one of twenty-five teachers, nationwide, to go to the CAL, Center for Applied Linguistics, in Washington, DC, to review the ACCESS Test which is now adopted by 26 states. Her latest accomplishment was that she wrote the Immigrant Youth Grant and was awarded a sizable amount of money from the Federal Government for the Monroe ELL program.
Becky was a can do person who always managed to find the positive in everyone that she touched. Her perseverance and determination were epic. She loved her students and had endless energy for giving extra help to her them and their families.
Becky lived a full life. She loved the North Woods and spent the bulk of her summers at her brother-in-law's, Carl's, cabin on Deep Lake. She really enjoyed her time there, swimming and playing with her grandchildren. She put endless meals together for endless family events, both in the North Woods and in Monroe. She spoke fondly of her beautiful Lake Superior and had many friends and family there.
She traveled every chance she got, both in the US and abroad. One summer she and Clyde took their own children, her mother Gege, and Gege's other grandchildren to France. What a trip that was.
She made unique friendships wherever she went and she will be missed by many.
A celebration of life will be held at 6 PM on Monday, November 15, 2010 at St. John's United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, 1724 14th. Street, Monroe. A memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Congregational Church in Ashland on Wednesday, November 17, at 6 PM. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund will be established in Becky's name. To send a condolence to the family go to www.newcomerfuneralhome.net.
Becky was born July 5, 1947, in River Falls, Wisconsin. Her family moved to Chippewa Falls when she was 3 years old, then to Ashland for four years, and then Shawano where she graduated from high school in 1965. She received her under graduate degree from Northland College in 1969 where she was a cum laude scholar, and her Master's Degree in Education from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.
Becky started her teaching career in Park Falls, teaching high school French and English. She put her career on hold to have and raise CJ and Jessica. Then she continued teaching high school French in Washburn. Once again, she put her career on hold to have and raise James.The family moved to Thorp in 1994, and then on to Monroe in 1997.She continued her teaching passion with ESL ( English as a Second Language). She was instrumental in getting the ESL program started in the Monroe School District where she taught K-12.
There were many other advantages she gave her ESL students. She started
Words on Wheels, a weekend literacy program for ESL parents and students, an after school program, a computer training program for parents, and was instrumental in having Parkside be a magnet school for ESL students where she taught K-5, and the Dan Bauer Bowling Bash for K-12 students.Becky donated endless hours and resources to the ESL community in Monroe. Today these programs are known as ELL (English Language Learners) whose numbers are increasing steadily.
Becky's professional world included attending the TESOL Conference in Boston this last year where she shared strategies with teachers from all over the world. Becky who was one of the original authors was chosen as one of twenty-five teachers, nationwide, to go to the CAL, Center for Applied Linguistics, in Washington, DC, to review the ACCESS Test which is now adopted by 26 states. Her latest accomplishment was that she wrote the Immigrant Youth Grant and was awarded a sizable amount of money from the Federal Government for the Monroe ELL program.
Becky was a can do person who always managed to find the positive in everyone that she touched. Her perseverance and determination were epic. She loved her students and had endless energy for giving extra help to her them and their families.
Becky lived a full life. She loved the North Woods and spent the bulk of her summers at her brother-in-law's, Carl's, cabin on Deep Lake. She really enjoyed her time there, swimming and playing with her grandchildren. She put endless meals together for endless family events, both in the North Woods and in Monroe. She spoke fondly of her beautiful Lake Superior and had many friends and family there.
She traveled every chance she got, both in the US and abroad. One summer she and Clyde took their own children, her mother Gege, and Gege's other grandchildren to France. What a trip that was.
She made unique friendships wherever she went and she will be missed by many.
A celebration of life will be held at 6 PM on Monday, November 15, 2010 at St. John's United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, 1724 14th. Street, Monroe. A memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Congregational Church in Ashland on Wednesday, November 17, at 6 PM. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund will be established in Becky's name. To send a condolence to the family go to www.newcomerfuneralhome.net.