Dear Martin and Serena,

I was shocked and heartbroken to learn of Suzanne's sudden passing. I had met her at University of Illinois when we both pledged Kappa Delta Sorority in 1984. I thought she was one of the most wonderful women in the house, and I was thrilled to share a room with her the following year. 

There were many remarkable things about Suzanne, but the one that most stands out for me was her bottomless reserve of love for others. I remember that she gave each of us three roommates heart earrings for Valentine's Day. Not only was her thoughtfulness touching and unexpected, but I recall that she took great care to choose earring styles that would be most becoming to each of us. 

After graduation, I continued to see her when she was in Chicago. I was always impressed by her fearless sense of adventure, whether that meant living in China or driving through a tight parking garage. Everything made her laugh, and nothing ever worried her.

But her students in China began to worry that she would not find a suitable husband. To be honest, the thought had occurred to me, too. But Suzanne merely shrugged. "If God wants me to be married, He will find a husband for me," she told her students. And, lo and behold! He did! Suzanne made a trip to the suburbs just to introduce me to you, Martin, after you had become engaged to be married. I was so pleased for her to have met someone who was not only clearly a very good man, but also one so exactly right for her.

Some time later, I received Serena's birth announcement: a beautiful hand-made card of red paper that opened to reveal the announcement. I was so happy that Suzanne's love had expanded yet again. Unfortunately, my  life had become exhaustingly busy with my own family of four young sons, and I lost touch with Suzanne after that. But her love for you both shines through every photograph in her memorial video. 

I extend my deepest condolences to you and Josephine for your incredible loss.





Hallo Hans-Martin,
wir wünschen dir und deiner Tochter, dass Gott euch nun durch die nächsten Monate hilft und ihr in Gott getröstet seid.

Alles Liebe
Ulrich und Anita Steiert von Liebenzell

We remember Suzanne vibrant and full of energy. She was always giving her time and skills to help family, students, and friends.  Other's have mentioned this, that Suzanne was in the habit of writing positive messages on a small chalkboard in the kitchen of their home.  The last message she left was  Isaiah 41:10  “So do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Though we miss Suzanne, she is now with Jesus in a "better place by far." There is no need for us to fear. God is with us and will bring us together again.  

My heart is breaking when hearing of Suzanne’s passing.  I was a student of Suzanne when she taught in Henan Institute of Education, China in the 1990s.  Though we had not seen since I graduated in 1994, he angel-like smile,  her faithfulness in serving the Lord, and her compassion for people have all deeply impacted my life and my faith.  A well-lived life will never end.  Suzanne, I love you!  May the Lord bless Martin, Serena and Jo. May the family find comfort and peace in the Lord. 

I am very shocked to hear about the passing of Suzanne.  I almost cannot believe it. I am one of Suzanne's Chinese students between 1994 and 1996 in Henan College of Education. She shone like an angel and she is a humble servant of the Lord, always sweet, young, dynamic, and friendly. I am so blessed to be her student and friend. It is sad to know that she has departed; however, it is comforting to remember that she is with the Lord and we will meet again before Him. May God comfort Martin and the whole family. 

We are deeply sorry to hear, that Suzanne passed away. We are gratefull to have known her. Thankfully we look at the time we worked together in Liebenzeller Gemeinschaftsverband. Suzanne´s very kindly und friendly way encouraged many people. The picture is from 2011 in Monbachtal/Bad Liebenzell and shows her and her husband during a gathering with other pastors. May God give you, dear Hans-Martin and Serena, comfort in this difficult time. Our prayers are with you.

My staff and I were greatly saddened to hear of Suzanne's passing. We've gotten to know her over the years through her tireless efforts in assisting her mother. Her joyful spirit and love for her family were always evident during every single visit and every single phone call. She will certainly be missed. 
Our deepest condolences to the family during this difficult time. 

Sincerely,
Matthew Menezes 

It was with great dismay that we heard of Suzanne's death. We like to think back to the occasions when we met Suzanne on 08/20/2015 at the sauerkraut market in Helmstadt. It was always a good time. We think of Martin and Serena and mourn with them. We wish both a lot of strength from their faith. Sincerely, Reinhold and Brigitte and Margot.

It was with great dismay that we heard of Suzanne's death. We like to think back to the occasions on which we met Suzanne. It was always a good time. We think of Martin and Serena, and we mourn with them. We wish both of them a lot of strength out of their faith. With warm greetings, Thomas and Barbara

Dearest Suzanne,
May the Lord welcome you with open arms. You were an angel on earth and now an angel in heaven. You have the sweetest soul. Your family and friends have suffered a great loss. You are an amazing woman with the sweetest voice. Your words of the Lord stay with me forever. Rest in peace my dear friend. Remember us, we will miss you. Love you.

Thank you, Suzanne, for being a great model of faith and encouraging those who were around you, I will never forget your lovely smile, the joy you displayed during time of trial, and all our chats we had on Tunghai campus. You will be dearly missed and I look forward to seeing you in heaven when we can be together forever.

With great saddness we received the shocking news about the sudden death of Suzanne. We remember her as a loving and cheerful person. We remember precious visits and times of sharing with Hans-Martin and Suzanne.Our prayers and thoughts are with you Hans-Martin and Serena. Jesus keep you close to his heart in time of sorrow and grief. HE comforts you and your troubled souls.
Carola & Joachim Jenny


When I think of Suzanne,  I think of  her radiant smile. It conveyed such genuine caring, kindness and joy from within.  She had a deep faith and her life exemplifies what it means to be a believer.  When she spoke of her beloved family Serina, Martin and Jo, her eyes would light up with pure love.   Suzanne will be missed beyond words but I know she  will always be watching over them..... because love never dies.


With great sadness we heard about Suzanne's death and can still hardly believe she is no longer with us. We have only known her briefly but we remember her lively character and kindness as she visited us together with Hans in our house for dinner and to celebrate my 50th birthday. She will be so much missed. We wish Hans and Serena calmness, strength and the loving support of friends in these hard times. Thinking of you, Gundula, Eiko and Akiko  

I am deeply sorry to hear of the passing of your loving wife and mother of Serena. On the occasion I was fortunate to meet her, she exuded love,  joy and happiness. Her enthusiasm for living in harmony with God was contagious. I wish your family God’s strength and peace in knowing she with Him. 

With deep sadness we received the news of Suzanne's departure, and yet we still cannot believe it. We do have such sweet memories of Suzanne. Our hearts are saddened. Our deepest condolences  for Martin, Serena, and Suzanne´s mom. --- The picture was taken when we visited you on 2017.

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."  Revelation 21,4

Martin, Serena and Jo - I am so sorry for the loss of Suzanne. I grieve with you. Suzanne was  a loving friend.  She was a cheerful giver, loved Jesus, and pointed others toward him.  I will miss her giggles, beautiful smile, warm hospitality (including German treats and German tea),  bright encouragement during exercise classes at Galter, deep conversations, extensive knowledge of Chinese and German culture, diligent study of Scripture, faithful service to BSF, kind teaching of children, loving commitment to family, the list goes on. Suzanne touched so many lives and continues to, in death, by giving others the gift of life.  Suzanne was a woman of grace and faith.  She was a servant leader in the church.  It was an honor to call her friend. May your family be comforted in knowing she is with Jesus. As you hold on to the hope in him, may you experience the peace that surpasses all understanding on your journey of grief.  

I am so sorry to hear this.  I know our Father is embracing Suzanne in His love, but she leaves such a big hole behind.

My first memory of Suzanne was about 30 years ago.  We were both walking into the building at Compaq in the morning at the same time.  She looked familiar but I couldn't place her.  Then she asked me "Do I know you?"  We quickly figured out we had recently met through some mutual friends.  I'm thankful for her friendship ever since. Even as she moved around the world she made sure to stay in touch with my wife and I.

Suzanne is such a beautiful person.  Her faith was truly an inspiration for me in how to live in Christ and share His love.  I have no doubt she impacted so many people.  Her stepping out in faith to go to  China was such an example to me and the impact she made there is something I cannot imagine. I have nothing but happy memories of her.  She was always smiling and upbeat.

I always enjoyed her visits back to Houston as well as the opportunity to get to know Martin and Serena. 

We are praying for Martin and Serena and those closest to Suzanne.  

Dear Martin , Serena and Jo,   Suzanne was my oldest dearest friend from childhood.  I remember her Mom taking us shopping at Old Orchard Mall and taking us out to dinner.  Jo always wanted the best for Suzie.   I remember she took ballet for a long time  .  She was  always so classy.  I remember us riding our bikes on the forest preserve trails and going out for ice cream at Cock Robin now Blazin Grill.  We lost touch after high school but I would hear updates from my sister who used to commute downtown with Jo.  We reconnected at our last St Tars reunion and spent the last few years getting together for lunches, spa dates and shopping. ( she could always find the best deals!).    I know the loss of her will be so hard for all of you.   I have faith that she is in a beautiful place right now looking down at us.   You are all in my prayers .  Love Geri

I was so saddened to hear of Suzanne's sudden death.  I remember walking into the room at Cal Poly for training and meeting my first teammate teaching in China.  Suzanne and I just clicked and a friendship was forged for life.  She was an amazing person and loved God so much.  I also remember sitting in her apartment in Zhengzhou when she told me she had met and been dating the love of her life.  Martin, she loved you so much.  You and Sarena are in my prayers.  She was a Godly women who loved her family and meant so much to so many people.  I will miss her, but also know one day we will all be reunited again in Heaven never more to be separated again.  That is a promise for our Heavenly Father.  May He surround you Martin and Sarena with His comforting arms.  I'm so privileged to have known her as my teammate teaching in China, and my friend.  See you soon Suzanne when we are all together in heaven.  

My years in China as a young mother were so much better because of my beautiful friend Suzanne. She was my first friend and one of my best friends  in China. We sat a lot of hours in taxis together with our little kids and walked a lot of miles in the Hunan sun. I have a thousand wonderful memories to cherish. She was so vivacious, gentle-hearted, thoughtful and kind. She loved people of every nation and was a champion for the vulnerable. 

When I heard of her untimely death, I wept.  Then I prayed. As I cried out to the Lord for Martin and Serena, I saw her face and heard the sound of her  laugh in my ears. I’ve never experienced that before. It was so powerful. 

Join me in praying for her husband Hans-Martin, daughter Serena and her mom. As most of you know, Suzanne adored her mom, her husband was her best friend. She always laughed so hard at all his jokes. 😂 Her only daughter was her joy and treasure ❤️ Her love for them was only paled by her love for Christ.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the homecoming of one of his beloved ones—
Suzanne, we can’t wait to see you again in Heaven and laugh until our stomachs and our faces hurt. ☀️ 

Lieber Hans-Martin,
mir fehlen die Worte um auszudrücken wie sehr es mich betroffen macht. Ich wünsche Dir aber von ganzem Herzen Kraft und Trost:
When you're alone, your heart is torn,
When you're confused, your soul is bruised,
He is all you need.
He's the rock of your soul,
He's the anchor that holds through your desparate times.
When your way is unsure, His love will endure,
And peace you will find.
(Steve Camp)

We have known Suzanne for probably 30 years, going back to her time at Compaq in Houston.  She caught the bouquet at our wedding and we were happy to celebrate her union with Martin here in Houston.  She had such a gentle, generous spirit and I don't think I know anyone who more fully lived out their faith.  The love of God just radiated from her.  We were very blessed to have her as a friend, and we are devasted to think of the hole she leaves behind for her family and friends.  Martin and Serena, you are in our prayers.  

We feel so sorry for Serena and Hans-Martin of the loss of her beloved mother and wife. May our Lord comfort and bless you and let them feel His presence especially during this hard times.
In Him, Baerbel and Thomas

With deep sadness we received the news of Suzanne’s sudden death. We remember her as a wonderful, warmhearted, and cheerful person. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Hansmartin and Serena, as you grieve for your loved one. May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ fill your hearts afresh as you walk through this deep valley.
Hartmut and Friedegard Wacker

We are really sad that Suzanne had to die. We were shocked when we heard the news.We wish Hansmartin the tangible closeness of Jesus in all things and especially in the time to come. Whoever knew Suzanne will be able to guess what you have lost.

We like to think back to our time together four years ago in Chicago, where we had a beautyful day with you as a family.
Suzanne was a wonderful woman, with a lot of charisma and enjoyment of life.
We will miss Suzanne here on earth, but we are happy to see each other again with Jesus in heaven.
Dear Hans-Martin and dear Serena, feel you dearly embraced and comforted. We pray for you.

I have known Suzanne since elementary school (St. Tars). We were great friends in those early years and reconnected at a reunion a number of years ago. What struck me the most in getting to know her again was this beautifully pure essence that she emanated. She cared so deeply about people inside and outside her family. Her smile was so beautiful it could light up a room. I was inspired by her faith, joy, generosity and selflessness. I treasure the memories created with her of going to Germanfest, Christkindlmarket, dinners and Lake Delavan. I thought there would be more opportunities to spend time together and now I realize how precious those times truly were-with no more to come. I am deeply saddened at her passing as she touched me so deeply. I am forever thankful for her friendship and find myself a better person for having known her. Love to you Martin and Serena and Jo as you navigate this.

I will forever have Suzanne's infectious smile etched in my mind, and her kind and compassionate spirit fixed in my heart. Such a loving and giving person. The sacrifices she made to tell people about Jesus while a missionary, and her love and care for Serena, Martin, and her mother speak volumes about her character.  Like so many, my heart aches over the loss of Suzanne. Like so many, my world is dimmer now absent the light of Suzanne's life.  I am comforted knowing she is with Jesus, the one who comforts the rest of us left behind, and that one day we will hear her laugh, and bask in the light of her smile once again for the rest of eternity.

We deeply grieve with the Karrer family for the loss of Suzanne and pray for the comfort that can only be given by the risen Lord Jesus. We will always remember her as a passionate follower of Christ and a deeply loving sister, mother and wife. In Christ 
Tobias and Sabine Schuckert with Nele, Tim and Levi

There are so many words to describe Suzanne, yet, none seem to truly capture her essence.  She was a woman of faith, character, and Iove.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen her without her infectious smile, so welcoming and joyful.  Her love for Martin, Serena, and Jo was evident in all that she did.  She had the purest heart and such a loving and giving spirit.  My heart breaks for her family, but I know that she knows,  that there are so many of us who will be here to support them, love them, and help them get through this.  And as maddening as it is to lose her, I can’t help but think of her smile, and that helps me smile through the tears.  

Suzanne was a very lovable person, I met her couple of times and she was full of life and love she was generous and kind she will be missed dearly rest in peace dear friend you are now in a better place where is no pain or crying you are in the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ deepest condolences to Martin and Serena and all her family 

OBITUARIO

In Loving Memory of Suzanne M. Karrer

10 noviembre, 1966 – 8 agosto, 2020

Malec & Sons Funeral Home

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