Marlinda "Sue" Vantrojen Obituary (1953 - 2021)

Marlinda "Sue" VanTrojen, born March 28th, 1953, passed away after fighting the good fight on October 12th, 2021. She was preceded in death by her parents Genary Kendall and Otto McKinney; brother Terry Lee "Fur Face" McKinney; and nephew Richard McKinney. She has left a legacy of family that includes her husband Jim Vantrojen; her favorite daughter Brandel Aguirre; her sons James Reiber and Steve VanTrojen; her grandchildren Reese Overmyer, Ethos Aguirre, Aaron Aguirre, and Anthony Aguirre; her brother Dan McKinney; her sisters Jackie Reynolds and Elsie Paradiso. Also, a million other relatives, including cousins, nieces, and nephews, that probably make up the population of Northern Idaho. As dysfunctional as we all are, she loved each and every one of us. Some were related because God made it so, others by choice and she loved them just as much. In her words, she would "kick your ass just the same" so, you know, love. If you have delicate sensibilities, you may want to skip the memories shared here. She went by Sue. If you called her Marlinda, you didn't know her, and she was likely to tell you to f*** off. It was a guarantee to her that anyone who called her that was a telemarketer wasting her time. Her daughter tried to call her Sue once, only once. I guess then "Mom" would only do. She laughed at being called a "tough ol' bird", "broad", or "horse". Sue's answer to "how are you?" Was never "fine" or "ok", it was always "Same s***, different day". She liked to keep things simple. She loved a good beer (or Pepsi if it was early), working in her garden, oldies, and wrestling. She liked four letter words and loved to send us birthday cards that might have a booby joke or a naked man. I'm sure she is giggling in heaven as her uptight daughter types out what she would want. Sue loved her childhood, but it sounded rough. It sounded hard, but free. She would reminisce about learning to drive on the farm her parents had with her brothers, she talked about how cold it was to go to the bathroom and how you would work the Sears pages to make them soft enough to use. She loved the peace and beauty along with the rough. Sue enjoyed many stages of life, always proud to be the mom that wore combat boots! Always tough, always ready to rumble, she'd tell anyone no matter their problems to suck it up. Let's face it, mom, you were always more heart than anything else. You took in any stray that came your way. She took back every kid at least once, if not more. Countless friends and family lived in your back rooms. Your biggest love was family. You wanted us all together for family reunions and Christmas Eve. Sue loved being a host! She couldn't cook (sorry mom, but it's true), but would win everyone over with her generosity. If you were invited that day for Christmas Eve, you would get a stocking and presents! Sue would never ask for anything in return, your joy gave her joy. We will remember her tenacity, her grit, and the way she loved us all unconditional where we are.