In Remembrance

Susan Wetzel Fackler, 70 of Duluth, MN died early morning on Sunday, June 14, 2026. She passed at home with family by her side after facing pancreatic cancer and the treatments with unwavering courage, tenacity and spunk for over a year.

Susan was born in Chicago, IL on January 23,1956. The fourth of nine Wetzel children, she grew up in Evanston, IL. She married in 1977 and was the proud mother of two children, Timothy and Emily. She spent her children’s youth working as an activity director with senior citizens, modeling her dedication to helping others.

After over a decade later, she returned to school as a single parent. She found her place to grow her dedication to others at Aurora University (IL), where she completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work, and was President of the Aurora University Social Work Association. After graduation, she went on to build the Community and Family Services program at Ela Township (IL) from the ground up. She earned several accreditations throughout her time there, while providing therapeutic groups for grief, mental health and stress reduction, crisis intervention, case management, and providing mentorship. She was always finding ways to build community within the township through innumerable partnerships and programs including her Charity Knit program. After 17 years of dedicated service to the community, she retired in 2021 to Duluth, Minnesota to take on her most cherished role as “Mimi” to her grandchildren, Calvin and Ruby.

Along the way, she immersed herself in the practice and teaching of yoga by becoming a certified instructor: specializing in restorative yoga, yoga nidra and sound healing.  She shared her gifts as an instructor at Full Circle, Svalja, St. Luke’s and the University Nursery School. She married Mark Fackler in 2012, becoming close with his family and sharing a lasting bond with her brother-in-law, Father Neil Fackler. Susan’s zeal for life was shown through her many hobbies and passions. She was an exceptional artist whose talents extended to calligraphy, ceramics, painting, knitting, weaving, writing, gardening, baking and cooking for her loved ones. She never hesitated to share her delicious jams and jellies with all as a token of her appreciation. Her family cabins on Tamarack Lake in the Upper Peninsula gave her the space and peace to enjoy kayaking, picking berries, foraging for mushrooms and most importantly- being with her family.  She shared her abundant love and light with her family, friends, neighbors and yogis, taking pride and gratitude in the communities she created. Susan would never hesitate to say how special she was to those around her, and it has been confirmed countless times by the extensive communities she built and was a part of.

Susan is survived by her children, Tim Kostner (Jackie Pribyl of Duluth, MN) with her treasured grandchildren Calvin and Ruby, and Emily Kostner (Alex Kemmeling of Spokane, WA). Also importantly, her beloved pets: Bitsy and Bella; and granddogs, Cappy, Birdie, Cricket and Boomer.

She is also survived by her siblings: Mari Quick, WI, Paul Wetzel (Trish), nieces, Brenna Tiller and Alanna Yeargain and their families, Richmond, VA, Laine Hoffman (Skip), Evanston, IL, niece and nephew, Madelaine Wood and Everett Wood of Chicago, IL, Richard Wetzel (Karen) of Arlington Heights, IL and Stephen Wetzel (Patrice), Lake Forest, IL; and her nieces, nephews and their families near and far, and her brother-in-
law, Fr. Neil Fackler of Chicago, IL.

She is preceded in death by her parents: Dr. Nicholas and Helen Wetzel; siblings, Nicholas Wetzel III, Sara Wetzel, Peter Wetzel; her husband, Mark Fackler and mother-in-law Hazel S. Fackler.

Susan’s family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to the nurses and doctors at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for their kindness, compassion and care throughout her cancer treatment.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Park Point Beach House in Duluth on June 24th from 3:00 -7:00 pm, with a brief ceremony at 4:00 pm followed by a drum circle. A future Memorial Service will take place in the Chicago area later this summer.