Thursday, October 1, 2026
Our Susan is gone.
Susan Ann Winship was born May 11, 1945 in Detroit, Michigan. She left us on December 3, 2025 in Wenatchee, Washington. She lived a life of high adventure, audacity, and danger.
Susan lived all of her childhood at a country home on the shores of a beautiful little lake in Michigan. Across the lake lived her future husband, Bill Schmidt. They were born in the same hospital (though he was two months older as she always liked to point out), and rode the school bus together. Susan attended Michigan State University where she earned a degree in education. Susan and Bill married in 1967.
The newlyweds started life together in Hawaii where Susan taught high school math. They purchased a cruising sailboat, Bolero, and lived aboard her, sailing often amongst the islands. After four years in Hawaii, they sailed on to Tahiti, Samoa, Rarotonga, and many other ports of call in truly remote places throughout the South Pacific. In 1972, they survived the 180 mph winds of Hurricane Bebe on the island of Viti Levu. Landfall was made in Picton, New Zealand a year and a half later. They intended to stay in New Zealand for one ski season, but found life at Lake Ohau so enjoyable that they stayed for seven years. New Zealand suited her. In 1976, her son Aaron was born and after a few more years they decided to sail back to the states. However, sailing on into the Indian and Atlantic oceans with a youngster was not a good idea as Bolero was thrown upside down into the trough of a tremendous triple-compounded wave in the Tasman Sea. They sailed by jury-rig back to New Zealand, repaired and sold Bolero to a friend, and flew a circuitous route back to Michigan.
In Michigan that winter they designed a house to build in the mountains somewhere “out west”. They left in the spring in a step van they had fashioned into an RV; loaded with their tools and worldly belongings. They eventually found the Icicle Canyon in the Cascade Mountains of Washington, where they were fortunate to find some remote land for sale with no power, no telephone, a nice creek, and plenty of snow. Construction of a livable garage was quickly undertaken as the snow crept lower. The proper home they had designed was started three years later, a labor of love that would take seven years. Susan lived in the homes she had built with Bill and Aaron for 46 years. Except for the two times that major wildfires threatened her home, she loved every minute.
Susan adored her grandchildren and spent countless hours taking them to the library, reading with them, and writing original stories for their enjoyment. She was also very active volunteering with the Leavenworth Friends of the Library for decades. She worked to support the library and the community’s children by furnishing free books and scholarships. Susan was also an avid hiker with a close group of friends who enjoyed the outdoors together nearly every week when the weather allowed.
Susan was absolutely devoted to her family and friends. Her personality was quiet and unassuming, but she was full of strength, bravery, stamina, devotion, kindness, and love. She was simply wonderful.
We miss her so.
Susan is survived by her husband Bill, son Aaron, his wife Annie, and her three grandchildren: Ava, Stella, and Erik. There will be an informal gathering to remember her at the Leavenworth Library on Monday, 13 April between 2:00 and 5:00 pm.
