Susan Lynn Metz

September 9, 1943 - March 7, 2022

Susan Lynn Metz, born September 9, 1943, at Bethany Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, passed away at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas on Monday March 7, 2022. Miss Metz, as the students addressed her, was a beloved and innovative second grade elementary school teacher in the Kansas City, Kansas School District and a member of the NEA Union, before retiring. She taught at Douglass Elementary School for many years. She worked for the State of Kansas in Olathe a few years before getting back into teaching in the Kansas City, Missouri School District and becoming a member of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Union. Miss Metz taught gifted and talented students, traveling to various elementary schools in the KCMO district before retiring. Miss Metz spent countless hours for the betterment of underprivileged inner city elementary school students in both Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, teaching with a talented and imaginative flair which brightened their day. Miss Metz was one of America's unsung heroes, seeing beyond race and economic status to educate young children in an often hostile and dangerous environment, one time even safely having a young second grader hand over to her a loaded gun he brought to school. She calmly had the student turn the gun over to her, averting possible injury or death. Miss Metz spent untold amounts of her own money every year, supplying her students with school supplies, snacks, and other necessities and treats to get through the school day. Many times, when out at the store, casinos, restaurants, the laundromat, or at other outings, former students would come up and say things like, "Miss Metz, Miss Metz, you were my favorite teacher," or "Miss Metz, I got into teaching because of you!" Outstanding compliments such as these made you realize even more deeply what an extraordinary person she was. Susan was an artistically talented person as well, and highly educated, having graduated from the University of Kansas with undergraduate and master's degrees. Susan was a very caring person who helped friends and family when she could. As an example, she would help care for her disabled, wheelchair bound brother-in-law, and when her niece had two young boys, would often help her with going to the grocery store, etc. Susan was known to her family as "Susie", and was preceded in death by many family members and friends. Some of those include her parents, Kenneth and Margaret Metz, brother-in-law John Sjoblom, her niece's husband Andy Green, among others. Susan was a lifelong Kansas City, Kansas resident, having spent the last year of her life at Riverbend Nursing Center. She was a two time coronavirus survivor. She was a past member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and supported the U.S. military. When her two great-nephews were in the U.S. Marine Corps serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, she would buy supplies to fill care packages which would be sent to them. She was a former member of the now closed Metropolitan Avenue United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Kansas and later attended the Unity Church on the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri and the Unity Church in Overland Park, Kansas. She was a 1961 graduate of Argentine High School in Kansas City, Kansas. She attended many of the all class reunions up until the coronavirus pandemic caused their cancellations the last few years. Susan left the world a better place and will be greatly missed. She is survived by her 3 siblings, Sharon Metz Sjoblom of Lenexa, Kansas, Kenneth Metz of Kansas City, Kansas, and Patricia Metz Becker of Olathe, Kansas; niece Marijane Sjoblom Green of Kansas City, Kansas; great nephew John Andrew Green of Kansas City, Kansas; and great nephew Stephen Green and his wife Cristina plus great-great nephew James Santiago Green of Le Claire, Iowa. Funeral services are pending at Maple Hill Funeral Home in Kansas City, Kansas. As she would say, "Blessings".