Mengis Funeral Home

Home

Obituaries

Contact us

Local Churches and Cemeteries

Other Services

Order Flowers


Susan D. Stortz

October 3, 1941 - January 20, 2025

Susan “Sue” Diane Stortz, 83, of Mabel, Minnesota, passed away surrounded by love on Monday, January 20th, 2025 at Mayo Clinic Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Sue was born on October 3rd, 1941 in Rochester, Minnesota, to Claude and Janet (Hair) Lowrie. She was the oldest of six children. Her family lived in Byron until moving to rural Stewartville to work the family farm. She attended school in Chatfield, where she met her first husband, William (Bill) Gwilt. They married on April 14th, 1959. Bill and Sue welcomed four children – Steven, Donald, Kay and Carol. Sue cherished her neighborhood family and friend connections – often supporting her children in 4-H activities such as hauling a bunch of neighbor kids to softball practice (in a ’64 brown Plymouth with weak rear springs!) and supervising baking, sewing and other miscellaneous county fair projects. Sue was a skilled crafter in her own right, spending many of her summers during these years attending area craft shows with her booth of handmade goods for sale. If Sue wasn’t paying a neighborhood friend or family member a visit, attending an auction, or stopping by Flynn’s store in Pleasant Grove, you could probably find her nose-deep in a book. Sue was a lifelong avid reader, eager to share her latest find and hunt for the next from the bookmobile, library, neighbor or family member. Sue and Bill resided in rural Stewartville until Bill’s passing on June 12th, 1996.

Life opened a new chapter for Sue with Erwin Stortz. They married on January 5th, 2002, at St. Olaf Catholic Church in Mabel, where they were active members. Erwin and Sue happily lived in Newburg in the home Erwin built on his family farm. They were able to spend many years together welcoming friends, family and their growing numbers of grand and great-grandchildren to visit, enjoy meals and holidays, and take in all of Sue’s beautiful and treasured flower gardens. Erwin and Sue’s time together was cut short with Erwin’s passing after a long battle with cancer on January 4th, 2016.

Mirroring the hobby Sue held closest to her heart, Sue’s entire life was a patchwork of family and friends-turned-family, as she had a particularly special penchant for making meaningful connections with almost everyone she met. Easy to talk to and share a chat, a political opinion, or take a walk down memory lane, many will remember her infectious laugh, spicy and spirited energy, and quick wit. And most likely, whether you wanted to or not, you’d likely hear the latest about her pride and joy – her grandchildren. From her neighborhood club friends in the Pleasant Grove area and her quilt club and senior dining friends in Mabel, to her beloved Cookeville, Tennessee family and friends with whom she spent many recent winters, her cherished cousins and so many more, Sue’s calendar was often full of appointments and get-togethers with dear members of all her various circles. It is that amazing Mabel community of kind souls that Sue’s family would especially like to thank for their generosity in helping Sue navigate the health challenges the last couple of years brought to her. Your kindness will never be forgotten as you showed that “in sickness and in health” is a vow that doesn’t only apply to marriage, but to friendship, as well.

Sue is survived by her son, Steve Gwilt of Cookeville, TN, daughter Kay (Jeremy) Wangen of Rochester, daughter Carol (Patrick) Daly of St. Paul; sister Thelma (Arlen) Henke of Mission TX, sister-in-law Janie Lowrie of Rochester, sister Ann Olson of Omaha, NE, brother John (Mary) Lowrie of Mankato, and sister Jean (Don) Goldsmith of Miltona; granddaughter Valerie Coe and great-granddaughter Gwen of Nashville, TN, granddaughter Emilie Coe (Dane LeMay) of Cottage Grove, and granddaughters Josie Daly and Evie Daly of St Paul. Sue will also be missed by many cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as members of her Gwilt and Stortz families. Sue was preceded in death by her infant son Donald, her parents, first husband Bill Gwilt, brother-in-law Don Olson, daughter-in-law Amy Gwilt, husband Erwin Stortz and brother Steve Lowrie.

As Sue’s wish was to not have a formal funeral service, we invite her loved ones to carry on her spirit and honor her memory by cherishing your friends and family, finding a favorite antique, book, or “bent and dent” store, considering yourself Irish this St. Patrick’s day and cooking up some corned beef and cabbage - and then raising a Diet Pepsi while admiring the beautiful flowers in your life. Details regarding a celebration of life will be shared once they are determined.



Send an online condolence