Susan Merten

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 25, 2010

Susan Mary Merten, 71, of Kansas City died of natural causes on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010.
Susan was born to Edward and Gertrude (Lessman) Palubicki on April 17, 1938 in Winona, Minn. Susan graduated from Cotter High School in Winona in 1956 and received a bachelor’s in music education from the College of St. Theresa, Winona, in 1960. She started her career teaching music and serving as the school librarian at Southland High School in Adams, Minn., in the early 1960s. She met her future husband in 1961 in Adams. On July 20, 1963 she married Mike Merten of Kansas City, Mo., formerly of Adams, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Winona. After their marriage Susan relocated to join Mike and start her career in Kansas City, Mo., where he was employed. Their only child, David, was born in 1964. Susan briefly taught music at O’Hara High School and then taught private piano lessons until 1983. Susan was a librarian at Mid-Continent Public Library at the Raytown, Mo. branch from 1983 until her retirement in 2002. Susan was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Raytown, Mo.
Susan is survived by her husband, Mike Merten of Kansas City, Mo.; her son and daughter-in-law, David and Michelle Merten of Grayslake , Ill.; two grandchildren, Alex and Kristina Merten of Grayslake, Ill.; her mother, Gertrude Palubicki of Winona, Minn.; her sister and brother-in-law, John and Ann Gustin of Eagan, Minn.; two nieces, Kennedri Gustin of Apple Valley, Minn. and Melissa (Gustin) Weigel, of Rochester, Minn.; and many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews throughout Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and California.
Susan was preceded in death by her father, Edward Palubicki of Winona, Minn.; her aunt and God-mother, Mildred Lessman, of Winona, Minn.; and her nephew and God-child, Leon Merten, of St. Ansgar, Iowa.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010 at McGilley and Sheil Funeral Home, 11924 E. 47th St., Kansas City, Mo. from 4 to 7 p.m., where the rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 1, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 7009 Blue Ridge Blvd., Raytown, Mo. There will be a rosary recited at 9:30 a.m. at the church. Intombment following at Mt. Olivet Mausoleum.
Donations can be made in Susan’s name to the American Heart Association, or Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 8812 E. Gregory Blvd., Raytown, MO, 64133, or to The Sisters in Jesus the Lord, 7049 Blue Ridge Blvd., Raytown, MO, 64133-5679.
McGilley & Sheil Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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