Susan Joanne Kern

Susan Joanne Kern was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Sam and Maryetta Close on May 14, 1955. Susan, with her brother, Michael, moved with the family to Chicago and then to Fort Wayne where Susan’s sister, Janet, was born. The family then settled in Lebanon, Indiana. Susan attended Lebanon High School and graduated from Marian College (now Marian University) in 1979 with a B.A. in Art. Her lifelong joy came from writing and performing for children. She wrote and performed with several children’s theatre ensembles in Indianapolis along with being a cast member for many years at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum. Susan and Philip Kern published several children’s musicals through Houston Publishing and went on to create Buckle Up a New Shoe (based on The Elves and the Shoemaker) for the Indianapolis Civic Theatre in 1981. She married Phil on August 31, 1985 and they moved to New York City. There she performed children’s theatre with Poko Puppets and was a co-creator of Company’s Coming, a children’s entertainment ensemble. She was part of the team that created the world-renowned Christmas windows at Lord and Taylor’s. At Jim Henson Studios, Susan worked with many aspects of the Muppets (and adopted a cat used in a photo shoot). After moving to Cincinnati in 1990, Susan and Phil welcomed their son, Joshua, into the world on February 23, 1994. At the same time, Susan, Phil, and Jerry Lowe began working on a new musical stage version of the holiday classic film, "It’s a Wonderful Life". The show received its world premiere in 1998 at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theatre in Cincinnati. Since then, "Wonderful Life" has been performed numerous times around the country. Later that year, the family moved to Indianapolis when Phil began teaching at Marian. Susan continued to be active in church productions and school performances. During this time, she designed toys and was a co-creator of Tiny Totes, a line of small purses that became quite popular with young girls. Susan continued to be active in her church and community until she was diagnosed in 2014 with Frontotemporal Degeneration, an early onset of dementia. In July 2016, she moved to Green House Cottages of Carmel which became a new and loving home for her. She passed away there on December 19, 2019.

Susan is survived by her husband, Phil; son, Josh; sister, Janet Landon; and brother, Michael Close; along with many cousins and nieces. A memorial service will be held at Carmel United Methodist Church (621 South Rangeline Road, Carmel, IN 46032) on February 8, 2020 at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Wheeler Mission of Indianapolis, Jews for Jesus, or Samaritan’s Purse.

Susan will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She was a light of spontaneity and joy, always the peacemaker quietly sowing for a harvest of righteousness.

Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,

Take my ransomed soul away;

Send thine angels now to carry

Me to realms of endless day.