Susan Marie Lutz, age 73, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2025, at Centrica Rose Arbor Place in Michigan, with her devoted daughters by her side. She had bravely and gracefully battled cancer in the months preceding her passing.
Born in Tiffin, Ohio, Susan was the second of four children born to the late William Richard and Cora “Jean” Lutz. Her parents modeled a strong work ethic, integrity and fun. They valued family, nature and adventure, offering a childhood filled with camping trips, fishing, gardening, and a deep appreciation for the outdoors. These early joys became passions she later shared with her own children. Along her life’s journey, Susan lived in Ohio, Texas, Florida and Tennessee, before making her home in Michigan.

A 1969 graduate of Old Fort High School, Susan later pursued her calling in nursing, earning her credentials as a registered nurse from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She poured her heart into her profession, serving with compassion at Borgess Hospital in Michigan as well as working as a traveling nurse, and providing private home care. Caring for others was not just a career but an extension of who she was.

Susan’s curiosity, creativity and hands-on spirit were apparent through her love of crafts of all kinds—from ceramics to building decorative birdhouses—treasured time spent playing board games, working puzzles, bingo nights, or enjoying occasional trips to the casino. She was an avid gardener, a gift she inherited from her mother, and she simply could not walk past a flower bed without checking it for weeds. In later years, she found peace in coloring, sharing many of her beautiful digital creations with friends and family.

Animals brought Susan joy and comfort throughout her life. She loved walking alpacas at her sister’s farm, watching and caring for birds, and almost always having a companion dog by her side. Although she faced more than her share of health challenges, she met each one with courage, faith in God and remarkable resilience.

Above all, Susan cherished her family. She found her greatest joy in time spent with her daughters, Jolie (Drew) Hamilton and Mara Dare Snook; her beloved grandchildren, Layla, Bree, and Manny. She leaves behind her brothers Rick (Colorado) and Bruce (Wisconsin), and her sister Amy (Mansfield), all of whom survive her.

Susan’s feisty spirit, quick wit, and unique sense of humor could be challenging, but were equally matched by her gentle, caring and compassionate heart. Influenced by her parents and grandmother Lynch, she maintained a strong Christian foundation that sustained her throughout her life. Though she still had many hopes and dreams on her bucket list, she accepted God’s plan and timing with grace.