(nee Werner) was born in Boone, Iowa to Helen and Hugo Werner in 1940 and baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boone.
The eldest of four children, Susan moved with her family to Hemet, California when she was 16. Adept at the piano and organ, she often played for church and took organ lessons at the University of Redlands in Southern California, where she attended college for two years before transferring to Valparaiso University in Indiana to become a Lutheran Deaconess. Susan received her first call to Nazareth Lutheran Church in Milwaukee in 1962 and served there for 3 years before taking a call to Flint, Michigan. Susan was serving in Flint when she was introduced to a young Lutheran pastor from nearby Cass City named Richard Eyer. After a whirlwind romance, they married in 1967. Susan and Richard have a son, John (b. 1969) and a daughter, Mary (b. 1973). The family moved to Whitefish Bay in 1977.
In addition to working professionally as a Deaconess for 5 years, Susan volunteered at Columbia-St. Mary’s hospital for 40 years, assisted with Altar Guild and other church committees, and made intricate celebratory quilts for numerous friends and family members at special times in their lives.
Susan showed care and concern for everyone she met, with an uncanny knack for remembering their names and personal details upon seeing them years later. Susan and Richard took up ballroom dancing in their 60s, participating in a handful of competitions and countless impromptu dances together wherever music was playing.
Susan entered heavenly glory on August 2, 2026, and requested that we share the following words: “All glory to God for the gift of eternal life given to me and all believers through Jesus Christ our God and Savior.”
Susan is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her siblings, Peter (Pat) Werner of Hawthorn Woods, IL, Margaret (Bil) Lund of Woodbury, MN, and Mary Jo Werner of Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Susan is also survived by her dear husband, Richard, her son, John (Stephanie) of Whitefish Bay, WI; her daughter Mary (David) Loy of Irvine, CA; and six grandchildren: Nathan, Catherine, Jonathan, and Benjamin Loy; Eloise and Nathaniel Eyer. She is further survived by her dear nieces and nephews: Nancy Werner, David (Carrie) Werner, and Michael (Ruth) Werner; Amy (Dan Gold) Lund, Gretchen (Jeff Weiss) Lund, Mark Lund, and Melissa (Ross) Dahlin; and many great-nieces and -nephews. She is also survived by other cherished relatives and many dear friends and neighbors.
Visitation on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at Our Savior Ev. Lutheran Church, 6021 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Whitefish Bay from 10:30 AM until the time of Funeral Service at 12:30 PM. Private family burial will take place at Wisconsin Memorial Park, Brookfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Whitefish Bay or to Horizon Home Care and Hospice of Milwaukee.
