John F. Suby

John F. Suby passed away peacefully on March 1, 2026, after a brief illness.

John was born on October 30, 1935, in Nunda, South Dakota, to Valborg and Irvin Suby. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife of 62 years, Donna, who passed on January 2, 2022; his sisters, Lois and Val; and his brother, Paul.

John met his future wife, Donna, at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Their love story spanned more than six decades, and John’s devotion to Donna never wavered. He spoke of her often. Just days before his passing, he was giggling while recounting to Matt how their Valentine’s Day engagement plans had gotten “screwed up,” resulting in an engagement on February 15 instead — a story that still made him laugh.

John and Donna had one son, Matt. John and Matt worked side by side for more than 35 years. When Matt was young, no matter how busy work became, John made it to virtually every t-ball, soccer, basketball, football, or other game and event. Summer Sunday afternoons often found the three of them golfing together at Nakoma.

From 1996 through 2023 — missing only one year — John and Matt played in the member-guest golf tournament in Rockford. They never won, but it was always a highlight and a must-do of their summers. The one year they missed, Matt had a broken collarbone and still tried to play so they would not lose their spot for the following year.

John and Donna were blessed with one grandchild, Samantha (“Sam”). Just as Sam and Donna were often “two peas in a pod,” Sam and John were always up to something as well. John introduced Sam to mani-pedis, which became a favorite tradition of theirs. In Palm Desert, the two would slip away to their favorite breakfast spot, “Keedy’s.” And nearly every time they returned, Sam had convinced Grandpa she needed a new toy, trinket, or iPhone — something she simply could not live without.

John also taught Sam how to “make a buck.” As a young girl, she loved making bracelets. Grandpa proudly modeled them. Soon, Sam realized she could sell them to him. If John had a fresh stack of bracelets on his wrist, you knew he had recently seen Sam — and Sam had a pocket full of cash.

In 2020, Sam met her future husband, Andrew (or, as John teased, “my favorite grandchild”). They were married in September 2021 and asked John not only to be part of the ceremony, but to officiate. It was one of the most nervous days of his life — he desperately did not want to mess it up. He did just fine. One of the great highlights of his life was proudly declaring, “Andrew, you may kiss my granddaughter.

”In the summer of 2024, Sam and Andrew — with no help from Matt — took John on the trip of a lifetime: an Alaskan cruise. It became John’s last great adventure.

John loved golf. He was a longtime member at Nakoma, Maple Bluff, and Hawks Landing, and played countless rounds at each. He traveled often with friends to play some of the greatest courses in the world. Those rounds and trips were among his happiest times.

Nearly 50 years ago, John began traveling to Palm Desert, California, which became his place to unwind and recharge. In 1999, he and Donna purchased a home at Ironwood Country Club. John remained a golf member there and played his final round in May 2025 with Matt.

Professionally, John was a CPA who worked in both public accounting and for the IRS. In 1972, he founded John F. Suby & Associates, SC — with his “secretary,” Donna, at least for a few weeks. In 1974, he merged his firm with one led by Terry Von Haden, forming Suby, Von Haden and Associates, SC, now known as SVA. Under John’s leadership, the company grew to hundreds of employees across multiple states. Long before it was common practice, the firm expanded into medical billing, IT consulting, wealth management, and trust services. John believed in being ahead of the curve and creating a one-stop shop for clients.

In 2009, John, along with Matt, Amy Butrymowicz, John Stoehr, and Pat Parker, started again from the ground up. John F. Suby & Associates, SC was reborn, and along with affiliated wealth management and restaurant accounting companies, became known as the Suby Group.

John treated clients not merely as clients, but as friends and extended family. He was available day or night, weekday, or weekend. Whether someone needed help securing a loan, finding insurance, buying a car, getting to a doctor’s appointment, or simply someone to talk to, John was just a phone call away. He even sponsored and personally drove several individuals to Hazelden. John was a proud “graduate” of Hazelden’s program — or, as he liked to call it, “finishing school.”

For all of John’s success, he would have been the first to say he could not have done it without Pat Parker, who kept him as much on the straight and narrow as possible for more than 40 years. They were the quintessential work husband and wife — bickering and all.

John often said he would work until the day he died. True to his words, he was asking about clients and work until the very end.

His favorite times of year were Christmas and birthdays. John kept a list — not of naughty and nice, but of family, friends, and clients. What began as a small list grew to many pages. Each Christmas season, he would sit at his desk for hours, phone in hand, calling every single person to wish them happy holidays. On birthdays, he called again — often singing “Happy Birthday.” Whether it was a voicemail, a brief hello, or what for John counted as a long conversation (five minutes), he wanted people to know he cared and was thinking of them. Christmas and birthdays will never be the same. We will miss those calls — and John — greatly.

John is survived by his son, Matt; his granddaughter, Samantha; and her husband, Andrew Webb.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Agrace in Madison for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Agrace. Please share your memories of John.

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