Susan Lee Kohls

The spirit of Susan Lee Kohls, age 74, of North Mankato, flew away on Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, MN. Susan peacefully passed away with the love of her life, husband Dale Haefner, and her daughter, Meredith O’Leary and son, Aaron O’Leary by her side. Susan, a wife, mother, and grandmother, will be remembered forever in the hearts of family and friends as a loving, kind, gentle, and witty human being. Susan was a woman of enormous intellect and an exceedingly generous heart.

Susan was born in Mankato, MN, on May 18, 1950, to Adele and Kenny Kohls. She attended school in Mankato, where she met lifelong girlfriends, the 'Sue's and Barb.’ This was the beginning of a recurring theme throughout Susan’s life: Her charisma and authenticity left an impact on everyone she knew.

Susan was compassionate and volunteered at various organizations that supported vulnerable women, at-risk youth, and terminally ill patients. As a Hospice volunteer, she provided respite and nurturing care for several families, one of which was Angeline Haefner’s. During this time, Susan connected with Angie’s youngest son, Dale. They fell in love and began a new chapter of their lives.

Later in life, Susan became involved with the Guardian ad Litem program and was appointed by the Fifth Judicial District court, working in the Blue Earth and Nicollet County court systems. Susan advocated fiercely for children's best interests in juvenile protection cases, conducting various independent investigations and providing recommendations to the court. She took tremendous pride in her efforts to provide the best possible life for each child and was respected in her role. The bonds she built with her fellow advocates throughout her time as a Guardian became treasured friendships.

In 2006, Susan became a Grandma, her proudest title. She and Dale played an instrumental role in raising Regan to be the incredible young woman she is today. They enjoyed cooking, watching The Golden Girls and 80’s movies, chair dancing, trips to Schmidt’s Meat Market, playing with her doll, Nicole, and spending time with the adorable rescue dog they picked out together, Reilly. She carried a ‘brag book’ in her purse with photos of Regan and would proudly describe each picture while flipping the pages. When kindergarten began, Susan was a staple in the school parking lot to wish Regan a ‘fabulous first day.’ She was the best listener and always gave Regan the most insightful advice.

Music was a significant part of Susan’s life. Music always played in her house, and she enjoyed taking extended drives in her car to listen to her favorite artists. A prerequisite when purchasing a vehicle was the speaker quality for this reason. She attended many excellent concerts and especially loved to attend and support her favorite musician, husband Dale Haefner, listening and watching him perform on the piano with City Mouse and other local and regional groups. Susan also shared her love of cooking and baking with her family. She gave Meredith a cookbook as a housewarming gift, full of recipes from memory without exact measurements, including the phrases “add a little but not a lot,” “you’ll smell it when it’s ready,” and “just call me with questions,” Her Texas potatoes were one of a kind and the most frequently requested addition to family gatherings.

Susan leaves an unimaginable void for her husband, Dale Haefner; daughter, Meredith O’Leary; sons, Aaron O’Leary and Colin O’Leary; granddaughter, Regan O’Leary; stepdaughters, Amelia (Brian) Jirak and Mariah Johnson Haefner; granddaughters, Aria and Everly Jirak; grandson, Roman Jirak; her beloved rescue terrier, Reilly; two sisters, Shar (Denny) Driggers and Sandy Berkowitz; and one brother, Duane Kohls, as well as many nieces and nephews. Susan is preceded in death by her parents.

A Celebration of her Life will be held on Sunday, August 4th from 2-6 at Hooligan’s in Mankato, MN. We will listen to her favorite music, look at her favorite photos and tell stories. 

Susan had a smile that could (and often did) light up a room, and she would want us all to remember her by doing something kind for others and making sure the people we care about know that we love them, something she never failed to do for those lucky enough to be loved by her. In honor of a woman who made the world a better place, memorials can be directed to any organization whose mission helps make that possible. One that was particularly close to Susan’s heart was the Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society (BENCHS), a non-profit organization dedicated to finding loving forever homes for homeless cats and dogs.