Obituary of Susan Mary Ziehl
February 24, 1961 ~ August 8, 2024
Susan Mary Ziehl (nee Klughart) of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 8, 2024 with her family at her bedside after a long and courageous battle with Cancer. Susan was the youngest of six children born to Lester and Lorraine (nee Blunt) Klughart in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan on February 24, 1961.
Susan will be forever remembered and loved by her husband Paul of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; son Eric, daughter in-law Melissa and their sons, Drake and Brantley of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; brother John Klughart of Edmonton, Alberta; sister Barbara Katt of Missouri, USA; sister in-law Marlene Klughart of Nanaimo, British Columbia; her foster sisters June and Maria; dear friend of over 40 years Brenda Osten; her daughter in-laws family special mention to Sarah (Ramzy) and their son Zaid; as well as so many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends some of which she first met in kindergarten or grade one.
Upon Susan’s passing she was greeted by her parents Lester Gilbert (January 7, 1996) and Avis Lorraine ((December 10, 1982), siblings Gordon Klughart, Lester Jr Klughart, Linda Klughart, and several pets that meant the world to her.
Susan being the youngest child of six, with many years between her older siblings and her resulted in many of her nieces and nephews being closer to her age. These nieces and nephews provided summers full of adventure, especially when her older sister came from the USA for summer visits and brought her 3 young children. The adults would tell the kids if you are bored, we can find chores to keep you busy! From this Susan learned to never be bored, and many adventures (mostly Mischief) occured on that little farm! At the time maybe not so funny, but those times would later provide a lifetime of happy memories to laugh at when looking back! (Sorry for the cows that might have been hit by a plastic bow and arrow or two). The kids would also enjoy ice cream, watermelon and rolled up sugar pancakes that were passed through the screen to be enjoyed outisde in the fresh air and sunshine!
From a young age, Susan knew she wanted to dedicate her life to children, so after completing high school, she would leave Prince Albert to the United States in pursuit of an education to become a teacher. However, her first summer holiday found her working at Humpty Dumpty Child Care in Prince Albert, where she found her true calling and would remain for 34 years as the Executive Director of the center. The children, families and staff over the years brightened Susan’s life and brought her great joy. She cared very much about her employees and did her best to make sure they had great benefits and just a nice atmosphere to work in as together they provided a wonderful program for the 45 children in care!
The day she became a mother to her son Eric was the best day of her life, from the first moment she held him she knew she would dedicate her life to him and provide the best life she could. Being a single mom to Eric until he was 14 meant she could dedicate all her free time to him, he was her best friend and she could not be prouder of him and spent many happy years being his mom. She felt honoured to be his mom and she said so often!
When Eric was starting to enjoy time of friends more than time with mom, Susan would meet Paul by accident in a online chat room. This would be the beginning of an unexpected connection that resulted in overly expensive phone bills and long hours of talking and falling in love. Two years later they would marry and remain together enjoying medieval events and long conversation about things Susan didn’t really understand (mostly because she didn’t want to) as Paul’s knowledge of things was well beyond her own in some topics such as physics, chemistry, etc… Paul would often thank Susan for pretending to pay attention, I assure you she really did try, but some topics just couldn’t even go into her ears!.
Susan had always wanted more children, but it was just not to be, but then one day Eric brought home his beautiful, now wife, Melissa. She would prove to be the daughter she had never had, and Susan couldn’t have loved her more. Susan felt when Melissa and Eric got married she not only gained a daughter in-law but also Melissa’s whole family as well, she grew to love them over the years. . Melissa’s family welcomed Susan and Paul into their family just as they were welcomed into theirs.
The family would grow in by 2 amazing boys as Melissa and Eric would bring Drake and Brantley into the world. Susan used her daycare years to create grandma daycare and dedicate her years to caring for the boys well Melissa and Eric worked. As the boys got older and learned to use technology and needed less babysitting you could find grandma and Drake face timing daily. Part of these visits included grandma provided entertainment with a Lambchops and Teto the orangutan puppet show that brought Drake hours of entertainment. These bonds later lead to grandma learning how to play Mindcraft and later stumbling through figuring out how to use a Nintendo Switch so grandma could join him on fortnite.
When Susan found out she had cancer she decided from the moment she walked out with her new diagnoses that she was going to spend whatever time she had left just enjoying life. She was sad that she would not get the years she wished for but did not let this diagnoses bring her down. She continued to be her happy self and enjoyed the life she had until the very end.
Though we her family are sad that she has left us, we know she will always be up above watching over us and guiding us however she is allowed from the other side. Those that leave before us are not gone forever, we will be reunited one day, so for now it is not good bye just a long see you later. A piece of us went with you, but you left many memories and pieces of yourself here with us to carry with us until we are together again. Family would like to thank the staff at Beau “Lac” Funeral home for their excellent service and support at this time. Cremation has taken place and a private burial will be held at a later date.
