Susan Ann Schwind Thorndike, 73, of Grinnell, passed away on May 26, 2021, at UnityPoint Methodist West Hospital in Des Moines. A funeral mass has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 3rd, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Grinnell with Rev. Ross Epping officiating. Organist will be Al Ricks and music director, Sharon Mealey. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation with the Thorndike family present will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 Wednesday evening, June 2nd, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Memorial contributions may be designated to Poweshiek Animal League (PALS) in Grinnell. Susan was born on September 26, 1947, in Davenport, the daughter of John W. Schwind III and Dorothy Hansen Schwind. She was raised in Davenport and was a 1965 graduate of Villa de Chantal Catholic School in Rock Island. She furthered her education at Barat College of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest, Illinois, graduating in 1969 with a major in Art History. On February 8, 1969, she was united in marriage to J. Michael Thorndike, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Davenport. The couple lived in Davenport for 10 years, she was employed at Wallace's Green House. In December of 1984, they moved to Grinnell. Susan was active in teaching and tutoring through the Grinnell-Newburg School District. Later, she owned and operated Top Dog, a dog training and obedience training business in Grinnell. Susan was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Grinnell, the American Kennel Club, and Iowa City Dog Obedience Club. In her younger years, Susan played a lot of tennis and golf; her technique in both sports allowed her a competitive edge. Her main passion was her love for dogs; she enjoyed the training aspect and educating dog owners on good dog obedience and behavior. She also loved competing in obedience and field trials with her dogs. She always held a love for music, the arts, and gardening. She was an avid reader; Harry Potter books was a favorite of hers. She played the guitar and excelled in her charcoal drawings. Survivors include her husband, Mike of Grinnell; two daughters, Suzanne "Zanny" Strickler of Charleston, West Virginia and Heather (Brad) Sanders of Urbandale; her mother, Dorothy Schwind of Davenport; four grandchildren, Joseph, Ally, and Gabby Strickler and Brock Sanders; and two brothers, Jay and Matt Schwind, both of Davenport. She was preceded in death by her father, John.