Susan Louise Taber

Susan Louise (Hayes) Taber died on June 23, 2025 in her home of complications from Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Susan was born on September 15, 1952 in Des Moines to parents Evelyn and William Hayes, the oldest and only daughter of four. She graduated from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids in 1970 and University of Iowa in 1974 with a degree in accounting. She was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority serving as Chapter President and played the bagpipes in the all -female Scottish Highlanders band.

She was one of the first women to enter the accounting field in the 1970s, working as an internal auditor for Kraft and Co. in their Philadelphia region. She moved back to Des Moines in 1976 to work as a CPA for Wolf and Company (Deloitte). She married fellow University of Iowa alumnus Bill Taber in 1977. She was a mother of four, which she considered to be her calling in life. She operated Susan Taber Accounting Services, a sole proprietorship, from 1995 to 2022.

She served in many leadership roles for Westminster Presbyterian Church, Treasurer for the Cub Scouts, and participated in numerous book clubs. She enjoyed taking many trips with her husband Bill and visited over 30 countries, every Presidential Library, 25 National Parks, and all 50 states.

Susan was a voracious reader and kept a never -ending stack of books by her chair. She enjoyed her flowers, plants, her cats, good weather, crocheting, embroidery, scrapbooking, and visiting her family in Texas, Wisconsin, and Virginia. She was kind, good-humored, and incredibly thoughtful. She was a loving wife, devoted mother, and was over the moon when she became “Gramma.”

She is survived by her husband, William (Bill) Taber; her sons, Alex Taber and Ben Taber of Urbandale, IA; daughter, Anastasia Taber (Dean Ensley) and grandchildren, Vivian and William (Theo) Ensley all of Alexandria, VA; daughter -in -law, Allison Taber of Dubuque, IA.; brothers, Greg Hayes of Urbandale, IA, Robert (Betsy) Hayes of Allen, TX; and sister, Carol (Frank) Mixdorf of New Glarus, WI.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Evelyn and William Hayes; her brother, William Hayes; and her son, Ted Taber.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4114 Allison Avenue in Des Moines, IA with visitation one hour prior. Burial at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines. The service will be livestreamed and can be viewed from this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLps6ESYW3jM08MEOw2Fg

Memorial contributions may be designated to the National Parks Foundation, Friends of PBS, or Iowa Public Radio.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

She is deeply missed, loved by many, and cherished by those privileged enough to know her. Our love for her continues on and on, forever.

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