My Name is Karen Suess, I was born in Moline at Lutheran Hospital. I went to Logan School, Graduated from Moline High, then Graduated with my first Nursing Diploma from Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing.

After a few years of practice, here and in Chicago, I decided I would like to teach nursing and headed back to school. I started my pursuit at the University of Iowa but, eventually made it back to the QC to Graduate from Marycrest College in Davenport. Keeping with my wish to teach, I journeyed to the University of Minnesota where I graduated with my Master's of Science degree; my major: Nursing and my focus: Education.

I taught nursing for 5 years at both the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire and then at St Scholastica College in Duluth, MN.

I have been licensed as a nurse in 5 states: Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Texas. Most of my practice has been in hospitals as a staff nurse, in a variety of settings: Medical, Surgical, Intensive Care, and Emergency. I have been in nursing management and various other positions.  I worked and lived in Dallas, TX for 20 years. I returned once again to Moline to help my father care for his wife during her later stages of dementia.

This is my first Parish Nurse experience. I was drawn to this position. It is my belief that all nurses, who have been nurses for many years, find that serving God is truly their vocation. What better place to do that than in a Church setting?