Photo courtesy of Cederberg Funeral Home of Frankenmuth
Dec 8, 1940 - Nov 16, 2025
Susie was my only girl cousin on the Nuechterlein side. As we were two years apart I spent much time with her. She taught me many things. I do have many of her recipes and enjoyed them and have passed them on. I always enjoyed our shopping trips where she tried to teach me a sense of style. I will miss her but know she is with Ed the love of her life. That is a comfort.
Nancy Lee Wilson
November 18, 2025 | Flushing, MI | Family
Oh, I'm so sad to hear about Susie's passing. I enjoyed getting to know Susie a bit more in the past years while she was at Winter Village. She was a hoot to be around, and we often talked of our parents and how they knew each other. My father once carved a set of 4 relief carvings for her called "The Four Seasons". She managed to get them back to my mom as she downsized...they arrived on my parents anniversary 2 months after my father passed. It was a miracle for my mom. I will miss Kay Sue!...
Christiane Keilhofer
November 18, 2025 | Frankenmuth, MI | Friend
Kay Sue (Susie) Nuechterlein Johanson
Kay Sue (Susie) Nuechterlein Johanson died on November 16, 2025, at Covenant Glen Memory Care Unit in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Susie was born on December 8, 1940 to Ermia (Bowsie) Zehnder Nuechterlein and Arnold Carl Nuechterlein. She graduated from Frankenmuth High School and then Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois. After graduation she accepted a call to teach at a Lutheran School in Peoria, Illinois.
In 1963 she accepted a call to teach at St. Lorenz Lutheran School in Frankenmuth. Several years later— seeking an adventure and change of scenery— she drove across country with her cousin, Judy Zehnder Keller, to visit her lifelong friend, Sally Rummel Lopez in San Francisco, California. Judy returned to Frankenmuth, Susie did not. Instead she found employment with Levi Strauss and sometime later she met her husband, Edward Johanson, who was visiting the city on a business trip. The two fell in love and were married on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in August 1976. Ed, an environmental engineer, owned an oceanic oil spill remediation firm in Boston.
In September 1989 Susie and Ed retired and moved to Naples, Florida where her parents wintered and her older brother, Chuck, and sister-in-law Judy, lived. In 2005 Susie and Ed moved back to Frankenmuth.
Susie is fondly remembered for a quick smile and hearty laugh and for being a wonderful cook. A dinner invitation to her home was always a treat as she prepared new and interesting dishes. She contributed many recipes to the Nuechterlein family cookbook which are still enjoyed and passed on to others. She also had a remarkable talent in the needle arts. Her intricate heirloom-quality projects include beautiful and complex quilts, as well as perfectly knitted sweaters, shawls and scarves.
Susie was a member of St. Lorenz Lutheran Church and was a Stephen Minister. She also served on the Frankenmuth Beautification Committee and was, along with Ed, a generous supporter of the Wickson District Library, Frankenmuth Community Foundation, CrossRoads Counseling, and many other charities.
Susie’s husband, Ed, predeceased her on September 13, 2012. She is survived by her brothers, Karl (Chuck) Nuechterlein and sister-in-law Judy, Michael (Mike) Nuechterlein and sister-in-law Kathryn, Christopher (Chris) Nuechterlein and sister-in-law Clare. She is also survived by five nieces and nephews and their families; Craig (Maureen) Nuechterlein, their sons Kevin and Ryan, Scott (Holly) Nuechterlein, their daughter Samantha (Peter) and son Alex (Cali); Laura Weenig (Grant), their daughters Amelia and Charlotte; Carl Nuechterlein, his daughter Hailey and son Ethan; and Anna Nuechterlein Rathmann (Martin) and their son August, daughter Mary and son Gideon.
A memorial service for Susie will be conducted at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church, 1030 W. Tuscola, Frankenmuth, Michigan on Tuesday, November 25, at 11:00 AM. Pastor Joel Kaiser will officiate. Susie’s family will receive visitors at the church at 10 AM prior to the memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to the Frankenmuth Wickson District Library or the Frankenmuth Foundation would be appreciated.
She has run the good race, fought the good fight— a good and faithful servant throughout.
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