Susanne A. Mickelson

Susanne Alice Mickelson went home to be with the Lord on February 17, 2026. She was surrounded by family and was loved dearly.

Suzy was a treasure. A “warm heart and unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:4)

Loving and serving others wasn’t something she did occasionally; it was the shape of her life. Hers was a life beautifully lived.

Susanne Alice Smith was born September 17, 1950. Her mother Alice Margaret Annie Alden was a 9th-generation Alden descended from John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, who traveled on the Mayflower and married after they arrived in America. Suzy’s project for years was to trace the family back to William the Conqueror, and even all the way back to Adam and Eve. (~150 generations total)

Susanne met Jan Mickelson in collage in Wisconsin, and they were married shortly thereafter. They were dirt poor, but they both found work at a small pizza parlor. He was the chef, and she the waitress. In later years, the good times together is all they remembered.

Susanne was a very capable paralegal and worked cases for prominent law firms around the country and also internationally. She was a source of strength professionally and personally.

Susanne was shy at heart and happily played the support role to her husband Jan’s renowned radio career. After 10 years, they welcomed a son, Scott. Suzy was the quintessential “soccer mom” who would bring orange slices for the team during halftime. She said she always wanted to have four boys, but instead she became a second mom to dozens.

After Jan’s debilitating stroke, she devoted nearly a decade to his recovery, tending to him with the unwavering love of a devoted wife. After Jan passed, she moved in with her son Scott and daughter-in-law Jillaina, and spent 5 years being the world’s best Grandma. She said often, “It doesn’t get any better than this”. Now that she’s with Christ, she knows better.

Suzy was beloved, and we’ll miss her very much.

Suzy is survived by her son, Scott and daughter-in-law, Jillaina; grandson, Alexander; granddaughter, Evonelle Mickelson; sister, Ronda Kruger (Larry Draves) of Clarion, Iowa; niece, Wendy Kruger of Des Moines, Iowa; niece, Rachel (Chris) Montag and grandnephews, Brantley Montag, Bodey Montag and Koen Montag, all of West Bend, Iowa; sister-in-law, Sonja (Don) Bates of Beaumont, California; brother-in-law, Philip (Sally) Mickelson of Charlottesville, Virginia; niece, Kristen (Josh) Bowlin of Highland, California; nephew, Jacob Bates of San Diego, California; grandniece, Vivey Bowlin; grandnephews, Ezekiel Bowlin and Elijah Bowlin, all of Highland, California; sister-in-law, Ronda Kruger (Larry Draves) of Clarion, Iowa; niece, Wendy Kruger of Des Moines, Iowa; niece, Rachel (Chris) Montag and grandnephews, Brantley Montag, Bodey Montag and Koen Montag, all of West Bend, Iowa.

A public visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. A private family graveside service will be held at Fort Dodge Memorial Park Cemetery in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

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