Marshall Susler, long time lawyer and civic leader, an upstanding man known for living his principles, died on April 30. He and Wylmarose Miller Susler, his wife of 23 years until her premature death from breast cancer in 1981, were parents to Jan Susler, Julie Susler Blum, Jody Susler Schneeberg, and David Susler. In 1983, he married Eileen Ruski, becoming father to her children Maureen Ruski, Kelly Gonzalez, and Rob Ruski. After 30 years of marriage, Eileen says she loved him even more than she did the day they married. They have seven grandchildren: Aaron and Daniel Blum, Jason Gonzalez, Devon and Malone Ruski Moretti, and Simone and Stella Rose Schneeberg.

Marshall was born in 1930 to Sewell and Marion (nee Appelbaum) Susler, working class people who struggled to ensure that he and his sisters Sharna Blumenfeld and Beverly Susler Parkhurst valued education. Marshall was accepted to Millikin University on academic scholarship, graduated Summa Cum Laude, and attended the University of Chicago School of Law. After serving in the Army in military intelligence, he returned to Decatur to practice law, representing civil and corporate clients and many in the Decatur community whose cases other attorneys would not take.

As an attorney he exercised commitment to civil and human rights for all people. Marshall helped found the Legal Aid Society in Decatur, presided over the Human Relations Commission, and belonged to the Macon County Coalition against the Death Penalty [w Eileen]. He was equally committed to the community of attorneys, serving for many years on the review board of the Illinois Supreme Court’s Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission and being awarded the Decatur Bar Association Pro Bono Award and the Illinois State Bar Association title of Senior Counselor.

His sense of civic responsibility also extended beyond the law. As part of the Jewish community in Decatur, he was active in that community in many ways, including as a long-serving member of the Board of Temple B’nai Abraham and a term serving as its President. Having experienced anti-Semitism, he worked in interfaith organizations to help dispel some of the hatred caused by lack of education about or exposure to other faiths.

He was well-read and intelligent, always backing up his opinions and arguments with evidence. His children believed he was a walking encyclopedia, who always knew the right answer to everything. But his favorite answer was, “Look it up! What are you going to do when I’m not around?” He was an avid contract bridge player, loved listening to Broadway musicals, had a voracious appetite for books and film, was adept at crossword puzzles, and enjoyed his cookies and ice cream.

Surviving many health challenges in the last third of his life, he became the oldest person to receive a kidney transplant at Springfield Memorial Hospital. Healthy in mind to the end, his body betrayed him, though he never complained.

The public is invited to a memorial service on Sunday May 4 at 3:00 p.m. at Temple B’nai Abraham, 1326 W. Eldorado Street. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in his name to the Temple at the above address or for kidney transplant work to donate through the www.kidney.org website. If you wish to send condolences, please send to www.moranandgoebel.com.