Susan Kiser

Susan Kiser, born March 23, 1924 in McBain Michigan, went to be with her Lord Jesus on January 7, 2008. Susan was pre-deceased by her parents, her sister Ann, and her husband, Otis. Surviving her are 10 siblings, 5 children, and 24 grandchildren. Susan was one of 12 children born to Dutch immigrants, Cornelius and Hilda DeHaan, who settled in northern Michigan. She received a degree from Davenport College in Grand Rapids, MI during World War II, and then joined the office staff at the Pentagon in Washington DC, where she met Otis Kyle Kiser from Lake City, a Tennessee volunteer in the US Marines. They married and moved first to Lake City following the war, then to Grand Rapids where both worked in the automotive industry. Through the ministry of Wealthy Street Baptist Church both Susan and Otis repented and professed their faith in Jesus Christ. They eventually assisted in the formation of new churches in Hopkins and Wayland, Michigan. In 1979 Susan moved to Greenville, SC and began working at Bob Jones University and joined Southside Baptist Church. After Susan retired, she moved to Maryville, TN. Susan joined Victory Baptist Church in Maryville and most recently Sevier Heights Baptist Church in South Knoxville. She loved her Ladies Class, the music ministry, and strong Bible preaching. She hosted Bible Studies in her home and loved to travel, visiting Canada, Florida, Texas, Michigan, Colorado and California in recent years. Susan combined a joyful spirit, hopeful optimism, and genuine concern for others. She loved to cook, and her yeast rolls are a family legend. She liked to learn new games, and taught her children that hard work was honorable and could be fun. She was adventuresome; in her 70s she rode horses at the Grand Canyon, coasters at King's Island, and trains thru the Canadian Rockies. She had a computer for email, and most recently joined Facebook. The family invites you to celebrate her life this Friday at 1PM at Smith Funeral & Cremation Service in Maryville; Rev. Larry Bradley will officiate. Family and friends are invited to visitation there from 11:30 AM to 1PM. A memorial service will also be held at the Richland Bible Church in Richland, Michigan on Sunday, January 13, at 3PM. Her son, Larry, Senior Pastor, will officiate. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Susan Kiser please visit our Sympathy Store.