Obituary for Susan Louise Cherwien (Palo)
Susan Louise Palo Cherwien was born on May 4, 1953 in Ashtabula, Ohio. She died surrounded by family and friends on December 28, 2021 of Metastasized Uterine Cancer. She is preceded in death by her mother Myrtle Palo (of Los Angeles CA) and father John Palo (of Asthabula, Ohio). She is survived by her husband, David; sons and daughters-in-law, Jeremiah and Karen and their children Hannah and James Cherwien, currently living in Batesville, Arkansas, Benjamin and Angel and their daughter Gabriella Hull Cherwien currently living in Blaine, Minnesota; brother John Palo (Freddie) of Lenexa Kansas, sister Nancy Bukowski of Sacrameno, California; many other relatives and dear friends.
Susan grew up in the harbor town of Ashtabula, always active in music in both school and Zion Lutheran Church (Finnish-American) LCMS. Her undergraduate degree in Church Music and Voice was earned in 1975 from Wittenberg University (Ohio). The Junior year of her Wittenberg years was spent at the Berlin Church Music School in Spandau, Germany (a suburb of West Berlin). After graduating Wittenberg, she returned to Berlin to complete the graduate degree “With Highest Honor” as a soprano soloist at the Berlin Conservatory of Music. She was also very active in the American Lutheran Church in Berlin, a mission church of the Lutheran Church in America (currently a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). During those 6 years in Germany she did many concerts and programs as soprano soloist in West Berlin, a city with an extremely active arts culture.
It was through this church in Berlin where she met David Cherwien, who came in 1979 to Berlin to study at the Berlin Church Music School in Spandau. They returned to the states in 1981 and were married on August 8, 1981 at Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, and two weeks later moved to Seattle where David served at First Lutheran Church of Richmond Beach. It was here that both sons were born, Jeremiah in 1983, and Benjamin in 1986.
In 1987 the family moved to the Chicago area for David to serve as musician at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St Luke in Park Ridge. During these years, Susan earned a Masters degree in Worship, Music and the Arts from Mundelein University (Now. Part of Loyola), and began her career as a writer.
Since 1990 the family has lived in St Louis Park, Minnesota, and are currently a part of the community at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Minneapolis where Susan served in many capacities as volunteer, including Sacrastan, and soloist.
As a poet, Susan wrote extensively, especially in two areas: Hymn texts, and reflections for Hymn Festivals which were written to be read between hymns. Both genres are published (Hymn texts with Augsburg Fortress Minneapolis, Hymn Festival reflections by MorningStar Music Publishers, St Louis). Her hymns are now included in hymnals of many denominations, including the Evangelical Lutheran Book of Worship and their newest supplement hymnal “All Creation Sings.”
She lived a life of beauty, enjoyed gardening and flowers, and especially loved time with the grand-children, making cookies, pies, or playing Yatzee.
She will be missed greatly, but we trust that “The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God”
Visitation on Thursday 4-8 pm (in four one-hour shifts to limit numbers) at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 3045 Chicago Ave. South, with Susan's hymns and reflections sung and read with reception following in the undercroft for each shift. Holy Eucharist will be celebrated on Friday at 10 am. To RSVP for visitation www.signupgenius.com/go/susan_cherwien_visitation. To RSVP for liturgy on Friday - www.signupgenius.com/go/susan_cherwien_funeral. The service will also be livestreamed. Due to pandemic safety protocol, in-person numbers are limited, face covering and vaccination are required.. Interment to follow at Prairie Oaks Cemetery, Inver Grove Heights.
"Life is changed, not taken away. Nothing disappears without a trace." (SPC)
If so desired, memorials may be directed to Mount Olive Lutheran Church debt reduction fund, or the National Lutheran Choir.
Susan grew up in the harbor town of Ashtabula, always active in music in both school and Zion Lutheran Church (Finnish-American) LCMS. Her undergraduate degree in Church Music and Voice was earned in 1975 from Wittenberg University (Ohio). The Junior year of her Wittenberg years was spent at the Berlin Church Music School in Spandau, Germany (a suburb of West Berlin). After graduating Wittenberg, she returned to Berlin to complete the graduate degree “With Highest Honor” as a soprano soloist at the Berlin Conservatory of Music. She was also very active in the American Lutheran Church in Berlin, a mission church of the Lutheran Church in America (currently a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). During those 6 years in Germany she did many concerts and programs as soprano soloist in West Berlin, a city with an extremely active arts culture.
It was through this church in Berlin where she met David Cherwien, who came in 1979 to Berlin to study at the Berlin Church Music School in Spandau. They returned to the states in 1981 and were married on August 8, 1981 at Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, and two weeks later moved to Seattle where David served at First Lutheran Church of Richmond Beach. It was here that both sons were born, Jeremiah in 1983, and Benjamin in 1986.
In 1987 the family moved to the Chicago area for David to serve as musician at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St Luke in Park Ridge. During these years, Susan earned a Masters degree in Worship, Music and the Arts from Mundelein University (Now. Part of Loyola), and began her career as a writer.
Since 1990 the family has lived in St Louis Park, Minnesota, and are currently a part of the community at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Minneapolis where Susan served in many capacities as volunteer, including Sacrastan, and soloist.
As a poet, Susan wrote extensively, especially in two areas: Hymn texts, and reflections for Hymn Festivals which were written to be read between hymns. Both genres are published (Hymn texts with Augsburg Fortress Minneapolis, Hymn Festival reflections by MorningStar Music Publishers, St Louis). Her hymns are now included in hymnals of many denominations, including the Evangelical Lutheran Book of Worship and their newest supplement hymnal “All Creation Sings.”
She lived a life of beauty, enjoyed gardening and flowers, and especially loved time with the grand-children, making cookies, pies, or playing Yatzee.
She will be missed greatly, but we trust that “The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God”
Visitation on Thursday 4-8 pm (in four one-hour shifts to limit numbers) at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 3045 Chicago Ave. South, with Susan's hymns and reflections sung and read with reception following in the undercroft for each shift. Holy Eucharist will be celebrated on Friday at 10 am. To RSVP for visitation www.signupgenius.com/go/susan_cherwien_visitation. To RSVP for liturgy on Friday - www.signupgenius.com/go/susan_cherwien_funeral. The service will also be livestreamed. Due to pandemic safety protocol, in-person numbers are limited, face covering and vaccination are required.. Interment to follow at Prairie Oaks Cemetery, Inver Grove Heights.
"Life is changed, not taken away. Nothing disappears without a trace." (SPC)
If so desired, memorials may be directed to Mount Olive Lutheran Church debt reduction fund, or the National Lutheran Choir.