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When the Karl Oskar Days Committee had the daunting task of choosing a Grand Marshal of this year's celebration, they thought it would be a painstaking drawn out decision.  In the end it proved to be just the opposite.  The most obvious candidate was right under their nose.  It was someone so obvious and such a local fixture, that they are sometimes forgotten because you see them all the time.  

It is Karl Oskar Days ultimate privileged to announce Susan Wilson as this year's Grand Marshal.  

If the name sounds familiar, it's because Sue has been in the Lindstrom community her whole life, with the exception of leaving for a brief stint with her husband Bob. She has lived in the same house her whole life.  You know the house, the huge, beautiful white house behind the chamber of commerce, the one with the red roof?  A spectacular home that her Grandfather built in 1912.  

Sue grew up Susan Andrews, daughter of Raymond and Margaret Andrews.  Sue is the fifth generation of original immigrants to settle in Lindstrom.  If Andrews sounds familiar, you certainly have seen the street in Lindstrom named Andrews Avenue.  Her father Raymond was a successful attorney both in this region and in the Twin Cities.  Her mother Margaret was the State Law Librarian at the Capitol in St. Paul.  

As we interviewed Sue about her childhood,  we had no idea she had lived such a full life.  

For instance, Sue was named as the official Ice Princess in the winter Festival of the Lakes in 1941.  And, in 1954, Sue had ordered a pair of (as her mother calls it "much too fancy")  ski boots from Henke, a Swiss boot manufacturer.  Inside the box was a ticket to enter a contest for a trip to ski in Switzerland.  It wasn't but nine days later when Sue received a telegram congratulating her on her trip to Switzerland.  So this young, single girl from Lindstrom boarded a plane and flew across the world for a two week vacation.  She was escorted around the country by Henke's representatives and stayed with a host family at night.

Sue completed her education at the University of Minnesota and began working at Mutual Service in Minneapolis.  She began working at 3M shortly after.  While commuting to 3M in St. Paul, Sue was struck by another vehicle who pulled out in front of her vehicle. Sue was hurt badly and took months to recover.  

In 1964, Sue met the love of her life. Bob Wilson attended a function at St. Bridget of Sweden Catholic Church. He lived in Rochester at the time but was up visiting a friend, Pat Gillach.  They hit it off immediately and soon Bob was looking for a teaching job in the Chisago Lakes area.  In June of 1967, the couple married and proceeded to move to Arden Hills.  In 1968, Bob was offered a position at Chisago Lakes and they moved back home with Sue's parents.  As Sue states, "It just worked out and we stayed there." Soon the couple began to have children. Mark was the first followed, by Tom, Anne, Steve and Susanna.  

Together counting grandchildren, Sue's family has grown to 17 people.  Sue explains how hard it was when her husband Bob became ill.  The two of them were inseparable for years and to imagine her life without him seemed impossible.  Sadly Bob passed away close to 10 years ago, but as Sue tells it, she has the love of her children and her faith and those two things have gotten her through the tough time.

Sue began working at the Lindstrom Library in 1981.  She was the only employee and as she tells it "I liked the commute," you see, the library is right across the street from her home.  So with a young family so close, this made the relationship between work and family that much easier. Sue also helped form the still functioning "Friends of the Library" group.  

 Sue began volunteering with the Boys and Girls State committee in 1970.  Her mother was also involved in the group, so it seemed natural for Sue to follow suit.  This year will be Sue's 46th year with the Boys and Girls State and County.  Her youngest daughter Susanna is now the president of the local chapter.

So what else has Sue been doing over the years?  Sue has been involved in; A board member of the Chisago County Historical Society, Fairview Lakes Auxillary lifetime member, Pi Beta Phi Alumni club, member of the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Red Hat Ladies, past chair of the Taylors Falls Christian Womens Club, a past member of the St. Bridget of Sweden choir (30 year).  Some of the awards Sue has received over the years include; Historian of the year (1998), Best original song (lyrics and music) Pi Beta Phi National convention, 2005 Chisago Lakes Community Ambassador. These are just a few of Sue's accomplishments.  As you can see, Sue isn't much for sitting around.  When asked about her life Sue said, "I am blessed to be living in one of the greatest places on Earth and with the greatest people".  

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