Madge Sutherlin

Madeline VanderFeltz Sutherlin, 94, passed away of natural causes on Wednesday, May 29th in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She was born in Jefferson City, MO on September 27th, 1929 to Gerhardt and Cecilia Franken VanderFeltz and grew up on the family dairy farm with siblings John, Leon, Rita, Geraldine, Robert, and David. Madeline attended Forrest Hill and St. Peter’s in Jefferson City for grade school and high school, and started at LeClerc College in Belleville, IL before completing her B.S. in Education at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg.

At CMSU, Madeline, who by then went by Madge, met her future husband, Edward “Ed” Sutherlin. She later wrote that he noticed her due to her Bermuda shorts and plaid shoes. They married on May 31st, 1952 at St. Peter’s Church in Jefferson City and moved to Independence, Missouri a year later to start their family. They raised five children together - Steve, Mike, Laura, Janet, and John. Madge was a teacher at Nativity of Mary for decades and Ed traveled for his work with Sutherlin Optical Lab, eventually becoming the owner and President.

As their children grew and started families of their own, Madge and Ed brought the family together often at their home in Independence (and later, Lee’s Summit) as well as a house at the Lake of the Ozarks, where Ed would catch catfish that Madge would prepare for lively family dinners. A highlight of their lives together were annual volunteer trips with Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) to developing countries across the globe, where they would provide glasses to people who could otherwise not afford or obtain eyecare. From the Dominican Republic to Bali and Chile, they saw the world together in service of others. Madge worked the “check-in” table and made a conscious effort to squeeze the hand of every person she met, signaling her presence and care despite language barriers.

Ed Sutherlin passed away on December 20th, 1999 after a struggle with Leukemia. Madge dedicated the remaining quarter century of her life to being a warm and steadfast presence for her expanding family - her five children and their spouses, thirteen grandchildren and their spouses, and seventeen great-grandchildren - and to serving others. She touched countless lives through continued travels with VOSH (to Nepal, Uganda, Sri Lanka, and beyond), volunteer work at Truman Medical Center, and service as Altar Society President at Nativity of Mary Church.

Madge will be remembered for her love and dedication to her family, her friends, her church community, and her volunteer network. She was an active and engaged parent, grandparent, and great-grandparent - attending sports games, concerts, plays, recitals, and more with supportive enthusiasm. She loved to talk about her family, faith, and travels, and was unendingly curious about the lives and customs of the cultures she encountered. She held the hands of thousands around the world and helped them receive the “gift of sight”.

At her passing, Madge was ready to be reunited with her husband Ed, her son Steve, her parents and siblings, and a daughter, Mary Theresa, who died in infancy. She is survived by her children and their spouses Mike and Maureen Sutherlin, Laura and Randy Koons, Janet and Vincent “Ace” Wagner, John and Pam Sutherlin, and Steve’s wife Elizabeth Sutherlin, as well as a sister, Rita VanderFeltz Puckett, and sister-in-law Judy Fechtel VanderFeltz, many grandchildren and their spouses, her great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, their spouses and children, and a multitude of friends including her VOSH family, who will miss her dearly. A full list of her descendants can be found below.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Nativity of Mary Catholic Church in Independence, Missouri on Wednesday, June 26th at 10:30 am. Madge’s wish is for attendees to dress colorfully (not in black) as befits a true celebration of her legacy and impact.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Madeline’s name to the Kansas City Free Eye Clinic and the Nativity of Mary Church Breakfast Program, which serves unhoused people (linked below).

Madge’s Family:

Son, Steven and his family:

Steven and Elizabeth (Weber) Sutherlin - Overland Park, KS

Grandson: Benjamin and Jennifer Kolbeck Sutherlin - Overland Park, KS

Great Grandchildren: Jenica Kolbeck, Curran Sutherlin, Henleigh Sutherlin, and Bennett Sutherlin

Grandson: James and Sandra (Ricardi) Stetson - Denver, CO

Great Grandson: Lucas Stetson

Granddaughter: Rachel Stetson and fiance Hunter Sanders - Overland Park, KS

Son, Michael and his family:

Michael and Maureen (Skidmore) Sutherlin - Kansas City MO

Grandson: Charlie and Kristine (Haiar) Sutherlin - Kansas City, MO

Great Grandchildren: Lilly Sutherlin and Jack Sutherlin

Grandson: Andrew and Erin (Noll) Sutherlin - Lee’s Summit, MO

Great Grandsons: George Sutherlin and Frank Sutherlin

Granddaughter: Mary (Sutherlin) and Christian Ramos - Kansas City, MO

Daughter ,Laura and her family:

Laura (Sutherlin) and Randy Koons - Fort Worth, TX

Grandson: Brett and Ana (Burcroff) Koons - Seattle, Washington

Great Grandchildren: Quinn Koons and Alexi Koons

Grandson: Jeffrey and Sarah (Topham) Koons - Fort Worth, TX

Great Grandchildren: Matthew Koons and Elizabeth Koons

Daughter, Janet and her family:

Janet (Sutherlin) and Vincent Wagner - Kansas City, MO

Grandson: Vincent Wagner and Ian Crawford - Kansas City, MO

Granddaughter: Theresa (Wagner) and Chris Prather - Olathe, KS

Great Granddaughters: Delilah Prather and June Prather

Grandson: Nathan Wagner - Kansas City, MO

Son, John and his family:

John and Pam (Hernandez) Sutherlin - Mission Hills, KS

Grandson: John C. and Claire (Peterman) Sutherlin - Prairie Village, KS

Great Grandsons: Charlie Sutherlin and Paul Sutherlin

Grandson: Eric and Monica (Nolasco) Sutherlin - Los Angeles, CA