Susan J. Kukla age 66 of Manistee, died peacefully on Saturday night, January 12, 2019 at Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital surrounded by her family and friends following a lingering illness. She was born on January 4, 1953 in Manistee, Michigan and is the daughter of Mary L. (Sundbeck) Kukla and the late Joseph A. Kukla. She was a graduate of Manistee High School with the class of 1971.

Susie was an avid collector of things: butterflies, Petoskey and Pudding Stones, to name a few. You could often find her along Sixth Avenue having a smoke and playing with her "kids" Lucy the cat and Ginger the dog; or enjoying a Pepsi while she worked in the gardens around Harborview Apartments. She loved going to yard sales and shopping in general. She loved nature, Willy Nelson and all things cobalt blue which is evident in her earthly possessions.

She inherited her love of a good joke and story-telling from her father, Papa Joe who preceded her in death in 2006; and was also preceded in death by her older sisters Linda in 1973 and Kathy in 2016 and is survived by her mother Mary L. (Sundbeck) Kukla, two sisters and two brothers in-law Sandra and Dennis Mikula of Manistee and Cindy and David Lokovich of Ludington; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her family included those friends at the Harborview Apartments including Nancy, Lee, Don, Kathy, Ann and Stacy who were an important part of her life.

A celebration of her life will be on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 1:00 PM in the Unity Room with Pastor Jim Friesner leading the celebration. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday, one hour prior to the celebration of her life. Final interment of Susie cremated remains will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Because of Susie's love for animals, in-lieu of flowers the family asks that those who would like to remember her, consider a contribution in her name to Homeward Bound Animal Shelter of Manistee. Envelopes are available at the funeral home and will be available at the church on Saturday, January 26, 2019.

The Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee is in charge of funeral arrangements.