Susanna Uys Coetzee

God called home Susanna Uys Coetzee on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Born on September 9, 1942 in Potchefstroom, South Africa, Susanna was the oldest of four daughters born to Catherine Robertson Uys and Cornelis Janse Uys. She grew up on a merino sheep farm near Bethal, attending boarding school and returning home on weekends to develop her equestrian skills.

An accomplished pianist, she attended the University of Potchefstroom, where she received a Bachelor Degree in Music and married Willem Frederik Coetzee following a four-year courtship. In 1972, the couple moved to State College, PA where Willem was offered a post-doctoral fellowship in Biophysics at Penn State University. During this time, Susanna completed a Master’s Degree Art History, focusing on the works of Marc Chagall. They returned to South Africa in 1975 and then immigrated back to State College in 1984, this time with two children, Catherine (Herine) and Johannes (Hans).

A devoted mother, Susanna maintained a studio of piano students at the Music Academy in State College as well as out of her home. She was passionate about early childhood music education and loved teaching Orff and Kindermusik lessons to children as young as 6 months. Her own children and grandchildren are avid musicians as a result of her profound influence. She combined her love of books and music into a career in the music cataloging department at Penn State’s Pattee-Paterno Library for 20 years.

Susanna and Willem retired in 2013 and set out on an 18-month RV tour of the United States and southern Canada. They sited New Braunfels as their retirement destination, transferred their church membership to Christ Presbyterian Church, and built a home with a beautiful view of the south east region of the Hill Country.

Susanna was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2017. She bore the condition with grace, dignity, and tremendous faith until her passing. She is survived by Willem Coetzee, her husband of 58 years; daughter Herine Coetzee Koschak and her husband Matt (Deerfield, IL); son Hans Coetzee and his wife Liz (Malvern, PA); grandchildren Teo Koschak, Liam Coetzee, Anna Coetzee, and Maia Coetzee; sisters Rita van Rensburg, Adri van den Berg, and Rinie Schenck and their families. She is preceded in death by her parents.

A graveside burial service was held at the Vernon Cemetery on Thursday July 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM at 15215 Cemetery Rd. Lincolnshire, IL 60069.

A memorial service will be held on Friday July 25th, 2025 at 6:00 PM at Christ Presbyterian Church in New Braunfels, TX at 1620 E. Common St., New Braunfels, TX 78130.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tye Preston Memorial Library or to
the Alzheimer’s Association .

Find the Official Susanna Uys Coetzee Obituary & Memorials Page Only at www.LindenFunerals.com

Funeral Arrangements & Services Provided By:

Linden Funerals & Cremation
120 Peterson Road, Libertyville, IL 60048
Tel. 224-331-6330 or www.LindenFunerals.com