Susan Mertz

Susan Mertz, otherwise known as Mom, Ma, Maj, Madre, Grandma and Sue, of Pretty Lake met Jesus face to face April 13, 2026. 

She pursued Jesus for the duration of her life, leaning on him through life’s highs and lows. She found love not once but twice in her lifetime and built many lifelong relationships from her church friends to her clinic girls. Rebuilding after loss all while continuously giving of herself to her community, family, and friends came as second nature. She excelled at being involved but also found simple pleasures in being at the lake or playing cards. 

She wanted to boost the morale of anyone she came into contact with. From costumed skits to providing a plethora of food, she sought to bring a smile or laugh to all. Humor was the best medicine and she always had something up her sleeve but appeared shocked when retaliation occurred. Confetti was her signature that eventually came back to get her. Her sarcasm transcended generations and she can rest easy knowing her grandchildren carry the torch well.

If you ever wanted to find her spunky side, you’d just pull out a deck of cards. She would have a new game with each visit and somehow managed to win nearly every time. Some say it’s strategy, some say she made up her own rules and some say there’s a reason she’s the scorekeeper. In a family of competitiveness, things were bound to get a little interesting. 

In the last decade she also acquired a taste for minute-to-win it games. It was her goal to come up with new games to bring joy to us all, and maybe sometimes a little injury. 

Her pantry was an adventure. If you wanted a snack that you refused to have in your own home, come to hers and you wouldn’t be disappointed. Beware as the snack may have a slightly stale taste with a best by date of two years prior but she just couldn’t pass up a good deal. 

She took pride in her family with every accomplishment but was most proud of each one’s choice to follow Christ. 

Her husband, James Mertz, three children, two daughter-in-laws, 8 grandchildren, three brothers, and bonus children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will meet her at those pearly gates at a later date where her parents, Henry & Vera Shepherd, and first husband, Dorane Beiswanger, have welcomed her to her new heavenly home.

She will be waiting for each of us to join her in heaven. Until then, may she forever live on in our memories like the box of Dream Whip in the back of her pantry. 

Visitation and a celebration of Sue’s life will be held Saturday, April 18, 2026, at South Milford Church of Christ. Visitation will take place from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM followed by a celebration of life service at 12 noon. Burial will follow at South Milford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the SMCC youth.

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