Suellen Hahn

Feb 24, 1940 -

Feb 6, 2022

After a life of fun, love and adventure, Suellen Hahn died on Feb. 6, 2022, of complications of Lewy body dementia. She was 81 years old.

Sue was born on Feb. 24, 1940, in Skagway, Alaska, to Clarence Lee and Emma Lucille Anderson. The second of five children, she was by far the most theatrical of anyone in her family. She remembered, at the age of 10, wearing wooden clogs while riding her bicycle and performing tricks outside the hospital window to entertain her mother, who at the time was in labor with one of Sue's younger brothers.

While attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks she met the love of her life, Bob Hahn, and they soon married after he proposed in the middle of a Perry Mason episode. When she exclaimed, "Why in the middle of Perry Mason?" His response was, "I couldn't wait." That excitement for life continued on in their lives together.

For 28 years she directed the Sourdough Barbershop Chorus as part of her 57 years with Sweet Adelines. Her musical experiences took her to places as far as England, and included multiple performances at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Once the kids were raised, she went back to teaching music at Clark Middle School, traveling to Disneyland with her students to the America Sings! competition. Her love of music and theater was evident in her writing the melodrama script for 20 years and combining the Alaska Fur Rondy Melodrama with the Sourdough - now Alaska Sound Celebration - Chorus.

Once she retired from teaching and directing, she and her good friend Phyllis ran Sourdough Sue's B&B for 11 years, hosting clients from as far away as England, New Zealand and Nome, many of whom they still exchange Christmas cards with each year.

Sue is survived by her children, Heidi Hahn, Scott Hahn, Andy Hahn and Holly (Chuck) Karjala; grandchildren, Brandon (Cassie) Breeden, Carlie (Brodie) Lanehart, Blayne Hahn, Celisa Hahn and Connor MacInnis; and great-grandchildren, Lillian, Avery, Robert and Dahlia. She is also survived by sister, Patricia Poppe; and brothers, Mike, James, John Anderson and their families; as well as the countless people who were her friends throughout the years. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her loving husband, Robert "Bob" Hahn.

Special thanks to Phyllis Kruger who spent countless hours caring for Sue as a friend and companion over the span of their 30-plus year friendship. Also, thank you to Sainabou Ndoye for her care and friendship with Sue in the most recent years as she lived with Lewy body dementia. We would say thank you to all of her friends and family for their love and support over the years, but so many friends - have become family - that it's hard to tell us apart. So we thank you all.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Sue Hahn Musical Education Scholarship sponsored by the Alaska Sound Celebration's Sing for Scholarships and awarded each year to a talented high school student: Wells Fargo #8007.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 8427 Jewel Lake Road in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 1 p.m.