As received from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Peabody, KS – Susan Kangas, 74, passed away on January 30, 2026 at Wesley Hospital in Wichita after dealing with health problems in recent years due to COPD.
Sue was born on September 20, 1951 to Nestor and Ellie (Osteroth) Maijala of Painesdale, MI where she grew up. She was the third of five children in the Maijala household, smack dab in the middle of her older sisters, Rosie and Annie, and her younger brothers, Butchie and Danny. Sue graduated from Jeffers High School in 1969, then attended nursing school at Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba, where she earned a degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1971. Her nursing career began at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hancock. She was often an on-call nurse for the operating room, but as most nurses do, Sue was there wherever she was needed. Her friendly, kind, and caring nature made the patients and their loved ones feel comforted, knowing that their concerns were being taken seriously. Sue was truly a gift to the medical world. As luck or fate would have it, a young fellow by the name of Ken Kangas became an employee as an orderly at St. Joe’s. That is where they met, and Sue turned out to be the greatest gift to Ken’s world. Susan Maijala and Kenneth Matt Kangas were united in marriage on September 18, 1976.
The couple resided and worked in the Copper Country for six years after entering marital bliss. On December 20, 1980, they welcomed their beautiful daughter Molly Sue into their lives. In 1982, Ken enlisted in the U.S. Army and the family set out on new adventures. While stationed at Fort Gordon, GA, feisty little Matthew Kenneth joined Team Kangas on September 9, 1984. Their family was complete. During Ken’s ten years of military service, along with the army bases in America, they experienced life in South Korea. The highlight for the crew over there came in 1988 when they attended various events of the Seoul Olympics, gathering many great memories of those days. Back in the USA, while at Fort Hood in Texas, Sue had the privilege of working as a teacher’s assistant in a local school, watching after healthy, curious, frolicsome kids. She said it was a pleasant moment away from the daily challenges and the inevitable sad times that happen in a hospital setting. The Kangas gang eventually put down roots in Peabody, where Ken worked at a farm equipment manufacturing facility and Sue was a dedicated nurse at Westview Manor until her retirement.
Sue was Ken’s best friend and would do anything and everything for him and their children and grandkids. She was always involved in the kids’ school and sports activities. An animal lover, there was always a dog and/or cat in the Kangas home. Besides her family, some of her other passions included camping and fishing. Sue’s favorite pastime was woodworking. On gift giving occasions, she often received tools and hardware instead of stuff like jewelry or kitchen gadgets. She was a long lean fighting machine and she gave it her all to the very end. She was one beautiful lady. Being an organ donor, Sue’s lifelong nature of caring and giving continues on.
Susan was preceded in death by her parents; Ken’s parents, Sulo and Marjorie Kangas; precious daughter Molly; sister Annie; brother Danny; brother-in-law Dean Cote; nephew Gary Cote; brother-in-law Joe Anttila; former brother-in-law Ronald Kolehmainen; and a number of her furry four-footed friends.
Surviving are her loving husband of almost 50 years, Ken; son Matt (Ashley) and their daughters Makinna and Laekyn; Molly’s children Konnor and Maddie and their adoptive mother Samantha Miller; sister Rose Cote; brother Butch (Sue); sister-in-law Nona Anttila; and a lovely assortment of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
The funeral service for Susan Kangas was held at the Peabody United Methodist Church on February 20 and a celebration of life followed at the Kangas house. Interment will be in the Prairie Lawn Cemetery, where Sue will be placed next to Molly. Rest in peace, dear ladies. The Peterson Funeral Home in Newton, KS assisted the family with arrangements. Cards of sympathy and notes of good old memories may be addressed to Ken Kangas, 203 N. Elm Street, Peabody, KS 66866.
Alexander McCall Smith wrote, “You can go on loving people a long time after they have left you; you can love them every bit as much as you loved them when they were still here. Love lasts. Love grows stronger. Love lasts a lifetime, and beyond.” Amen to that.
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