Gooding, Susan Faith

Other Events:

• Obituary: 17 Sep 2013; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
Mueller, Rev. Susan F.
"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Phil 1:21
Rev. Susan Faith Mueller passed joyfully holding her beloved Savior's hand from life into life eternal on September 14, 2013. Susan was born January 3, 1943, the first child of Charles L. and June L. (Storch) Gooding in Appleton, WI. When she was eleven years old she met Jesus while walking through Erb Park and gave Him her life. On June 18, 1961, she married her best friend and soulmate Merle H. Mueller. They celebrated 52 years together. Their marriage was blessed with five children, 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Susan loved the Lord and served Him faithfully as a wife, mother and friend. She became a pastor in 1980 and was credentialed with United Evangelical Churches for 25 years. She enjoyed preaching, teaching, counseling and chaplaincy work, especially in hospitals and nursing homes to the lonely, ill and elderly.
Susan enjoyed God's creation and could identify many animals, birds, flowers, trees, rocks and minerals. Merle and Susan camped in Canada on their honeymoon and throughout life whenever able. They camped and explored most of the US states, all but one of the Canadian provinces, and parts of Mexico. They also traveled to six foreign countries on mission trips.
Susan fought rheumatoid arthritis since age 40 and its pain, crippling deformities, limitations, and the need of many surgeries. She was also victorious over cancer three times. She passed from congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and COPD from the rheumatoid arthritis. Though she had to give up hiking, sewing and oil painting, she replaced them with bird watching-for many years keeping a "yard list" that could total into the 60's-photography and writing. Many lives were touched by her photos and poetry-some published but many given away; and also her constant stream (no matter how painful the effort) of letters and cards. She never went to bed without counting her blessings, and had notebooks full of them.
Susan always had dogs, cats and outdoor critters as friends, and she and Merle enjoyed Pet Therapy in two hospitals with their greyhounds, Grace and Glory. They enjoyed raising and giving away orchids. They had a pond, woodland gardens and prairie right outside their windows.
Since their marriage in 1961, Susan and Merle always sponsored a child, and in later years over 20 at a time, which gave her great opportunity to write and share the love of Jesus in many children and families throughout the world. They both worked as advocates for Compassion International.
Susan is survived by her husband, Merle H. and their children: Rain (Chris) Dow; April (Lyndon) Bartle; Dawn (Steve) Olsen; John (Tina) Mueller; and Daniel (Amy) Mueller;
her grandchildren: Stephen, Joy, Sarah, Hannah, Peter, Michael (Rachel), Natasha, Orlondo, Jadah, Maurice, Savanna, Cortney, Jake, Josh, Caitlin, Calissa, Nick, Kelly, and Alexandra; great-grandchildren, Carter and Isabella; two brothers, Scott (Pat) Gooding and Bob (Cindy) Gooding, and many dear friends, relatives, and prayer partners.
A celebration service will be held on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, 10:30 a.m., at Valley Harvest Church, 2216 American Drive, Neenah, with Pastor Bidal Torrez officiating. Susan's family will greet relatives and friends from 9:00 a.m. Friday until the hour of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, Susan has requested that memorial donations be made to Compassion International 12290 Voyager Parkway Colorado Springs, CO 80997 or at www.compassion.com to help needy children around the world.
"Created to sing a love song to Jesus
Created to praise Him whatever I do
May my life be a song and musical sunset
Sung loud and clear in all that I do.
In toil and in pain, in joy and in laughter
May it ring clear my love song to You
Lifting ever higher in praise adoration
Unending, unceasing this love song for You."
By Susan F. Mueller
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on September 17, 2013

Susan married Mueller, Merle Harvey 18 Jun 1961, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA. Merle (son of Mueller, Emro and Bloedorn, Helen) was born 21 Nov 1936; died 27 Nov 2014. [Group Sheet]

April — Bartle, Lydon. [Group Sheet]

Rain married Dow, Chris [Group Sheet]

Dawn — Olsen, Steve. [Group Sheet]

John married Fritz, Tina [Group Sheet]

Daniel — Unknown, Amy. [Group Sheet]