Susan Craven

Susan Jennifer Craven passed away in Wheat Ridge, CO on January 4, 2022, as a result of a lengthy illness.

Susan was born Suk Ja Ahn on October 29, 1956, in Seoul, Korea.  Orphaned as a young child, she was adopted at the age of 9 by John and Arlene Camper while John was serving with the military in Korea, and she soon began her life in the United States as Susan Jennifer Camper.  With great courage, Susan overcame significant childhood challenges and went on to graduate from Grand Junction Central High School in 1976, and Mesa College in 1978 with an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Susan worked in childcare for a short time and then moved to Boulder, Montana to work at the Montana Developmental Center and begin what would become a lengthy career of service to individuals with intellectual disabilities.  She interrupted that career for several years in order to care for her ailing grandmother in Flagler Beach, Florida, while working as an aide in several senior living communities.  In 1984, she moved to the Denver area, where she resumed her chosen career and became a Job Consultant and Employment Counselor with Developmental Disabilities Resource Center (DDRC).  She was married in 1991 and later divorced.  Susan retired from DDRC in 2019 after providing 35 years of service to those in need.

Susan greatly enjoyed time with family and, for reasons that remain inexplicable, she was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys.  For several years she enjoyed working a second job as an usher/attendant at Mile High Stadium.

Susan is survived by her mother, Arlene Camper, her brother and sister-in-law John and Teresa Camper, her nieces Rebecca Molstad (Christopher) and Julie Baumgartner (Peter), her great-nieces Claire and Anna, and her great-nephew Matthew, all living in the Denver area.  She was preceded in death by her father, (Ret.) Maj. John Camper.

In lieu of services, and in consideration of the pandemic and the winter travel season, a memorial tree planting will be held in a park near Susan’s home in Wheat Ridge, CO later this spring, to be followed by a celebratory gathering in a nearby restaurant.  Those wishing to be notified of details are asked to contact Susan’s brother John at johncamper@msn.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Susan’s name to:

American Diabetes Association

P.O. Box 7023

Merrifield, VA  22116-7023

https://www.diabetes.org/

American Kidney Fund

11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300

Rockville, MD  20852

www.kidneyfund.org