Suzanne Kathleen Mencel

Suzanne “Sue” Kathleen Mencel (nee Jurkanis), age 86, passed away peacefully with her husband George at her side on September 19, 2025, at Benedictine Living Community – Marywood memory care in Duluth, Minnesota. Born in Duluth on June 15, 1939, Sue lived a life defined by compassion, faith, and unwavering generosity.

Sue’s legacy is one of selflessness and service. Her strong faith guided her daily life, with unconditional love. She was known for putting others before herself, tending to people in their times of need, and offering hospitality to all. Whether as a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, coworker, friend or neighbor, Sue always saw the good in people and fiercely defended their wellbeing. She was the one who visited those in hospitals and long-term care facilities, ensuring no one felt alone.

Devotion to family and friends was one of her defining hallmarks. Her sons and daughters-in-law often would turn to her for wisdom and guidance through life’s twists and turns—big and small. Her nurturing spirit extended to her grandchildren as she shared countless spontaneous and planned outings, adventures, overnights and Christmas shopping trips. She was a constant source of comfort, encouragement, and love across generations.

A graduate of Denfeld High School (Class of 1957), Sue married the love of her life, George Mencel, on April 22, 1961. Together, they moved to the Twin Cities and raised three sons in South Minneapolis. Sue found her calling as a Health Unit Coordinator (HUC) in the Emergency Room at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital. After its closure in 1986, she continued her career as a HUC in the Labor and Delivery Unit at Fairview-St. Mary’s Hospital until her retirement in 2001. Still filled with the need to serve others, Sue volunteered in the surgical waiting room at Essentia Health – St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth.

In retirement, Sue and George returned to her childhood home on a bay of the St. Louis River in Duluth. The “Duluth House” became a beloved family destination, filled with campfires, walks, talks, boating, hunting, and laughter. It was a place where everyone was welcome.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Edith Jurkanis, and her brother Richard “Dick” Jurkanis.

Sue is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, George Mencel; children Richard(Kara), Terry(Sue), and Kurt(Tammy); grandchildren Reid(Laura), Merek(Liz), Caleb(Dana), Marin(Cody) Tucholke, Alyssa, and Alek; great-grandchildren Hank, Linden, Ruth, and Abigail; sister-in-law Natalie Jurkanis.

Sue had kindly requested that no funeral service be held, but please keep her memory close to your heart. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.