Susan "Sue" Dorsey-Brandenburg

DORSEY-BRANDENBURG, Susan “Sue”, age 70, of Centerville, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.
There are many people that leave indelible marks on our lives, and then there was Sue. She ripped up the playbook and re-wrote it with her own example. And now we’re expected to put her essence into words? Shakespeare himself would have come up short at this task. The only comfort from this exercise is in knowing that anything anyone could manage to commit to paper is unnecessary; because if you met her even once, then you knew exactly what she was like.

Independent, thoughtful, sincere, caring, selfless - with Sue, you really got the whole package. When you were with her, you felt like the most important person in the world. She lived an exemplary life, and she did it on her terms. She had her own money, her own home, and her own way of doing things. After the passing of her second (and third!) husband, Ron Brandenburg, she lived independently in her beautiful home in Centerville for nearly 20 years. Although she lived alone, one could wager that she was rarely lonely. Her remarkably vast network of friends and family were as beloved to her as Pepsi and pantyhose. Yes, that important!

Smart, inspired, and hard-working - after the divorce to her first husband, Terry Dorsey, she found herself in the work force, learning to make ends meet as a single mother. She was able to retire comfortably from her career in purchasing, where she became a well-respected expert in her industry. She loved her work and was very good at it.

As revered as she was, it should be disclosed that she was not a perfect person. Sue was admittedly competitive and leaves behind a shameful legacy of cheating at board games. She would rob you unapologetically. And with this, she did not discriminate. A truly exceptional human being - she is gone - but could never be forgotten. A rare example of beauty, both inside and out. She went out on top, and on her terms, beaming her trademark smile for everyone she encountered.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents; Raymond and Joy (Schafer) Tensing (one of eight siblings), first husband Terry Dorsey; second husband Ron Brandenburg; brother Michael Tensing; and brother-in-law Barry Morgan. She is survived by her son Dan (Kristina) Dorsey; granddaughter, Quinn Dorsey; grandson, Michael Campbell; siblings Carol (Dick) Westrich, Nancy Morgan, Tom Tensing, Jackie Tensing, Mary Ann (Gino) Servizzi, Jim (Annette) Tensing, and Beth (Greg) Heath; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 11:00am-1:00pm Friday, July 24 at Routsong Funeral Home, 2100 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering, with a funeral service at 1:00pm. Burial immediately following in David’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, go out and do something unexpected and generous for someone in her name. Bonus points awarded if it’s done for a stranger. Or make a donation to Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, who provided nothing short of exceptional care. As we know many people may not be able to attend in-person during these unprecedented times, a link to the live-streamed services will be added to Susan’s Tribute Wall found at www.routsong.com.