Susan Aamot Jurgens-Kammen

Susan Marie Aamot Jurgens-Kammen of Willmar died on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at St. Cloud Hospital at the age of 78.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, September 20, 2024 at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Watson.  Rev. Marie Eckberg will officiate and interment will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM the day of the service at the church.

Susan was the fourth child of Adeline Olson and Verdi Aamot. She felt like she had an idelic life growing up in the small Minnesota town of Watson. Susan was born September 9, 1946. She attended Watson School through eighth grade and graduated high school from Central High School in Montevideo, MN in 1964. She was energetic, involved in GAA, Student Council and her real love being a cheerleader for her four years in Montevideo High School. She loved every minute of school. She had a quick wit and a great sense of humor.

Susan married her high school sweetheart Michael Jurgens at Mac Dill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL. When Mike’s military stent was over, he was hired by Northwestern Bell Telephone and they moved to Windom, MN where Susan’s parents had a motel. Later they moved to Rochester, MN, continuing Mike’s occupation with Northwestern Bell. An ad in the local newspaper would change their life forever. Mike had always wanted to be a Minnesota highway patrolman. While in Rochester, they saw an ad looking for patrol candidates. There were 2500 that applied, and they would choose 40. After several months of testing and physical trials Mike attended the Minnesota State Patrol Academy. Redwood Falls, MN was his first station. Their children John and Julie went to school there until 1978 when they moved to Grand Rapids, MN. Susan and Michael had vacationed there many times. With its beautiful lakes and hunting areas it seemed like a wonderful place to be. Susan and Mike traveled by motorcycle many years, visiting western and northern states and spending three weeks on a motorcycle touring around Alaska. They lived in Grand Rapids for many years until Mike’s untimely death at the age of 55. Their children John and Julie were already married with children. Susan later married Ken Kammen. She and Ken continued their motorcycle adventure for 20 more years.

Susan loved reading newspapers, watching the news, history, football, reading, and writing books. She had four novels published and one true story of law-enforcement. “10-8 Reporting for Duty “ tells the true story of law enforcement’s lives. 

Susan is survived by her husband, Ken; children: John (Kim) Jurgens, Julie (Jim) Shimek; step-children: Bruce (Angie Seirberlich) Kammen, Lynn (Rob) Illetscho, and Lisa Kammen; grandchildren: Ryan, Michael, Samantha, Greg, Drew, Adam, and Alex; siblings: Jean (Jack) Bettger, John (Anita) Aamot, Bruce (Lori) Aamot, Robert (Dawn) Aamot, Rebecca (Terry) Culhane, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Michael Jurgens; sibling, Carolyn Walton; special mother-in-law, Sylvia Jurgens; and sister-in-law Gwen Jurgens.

With broken hearts we say goodbye to our lovely mother, grandmother, and great grand mother, sister, aunt, and friend. Susan left us with heavy hearts. We will remember her always for the way she lived her life with love, generosity, and an unparalleled sense of humor. A life well lived now at home with the Lord and her family and friends who had gone before.