This week, OTOC lost one of it's most faithful leaders, Susan Kuhlmann, of Friends of OTOC (formerly Holy Name Catholic Church). Susan dedicated more than 30 years to the work of OTOC and took every advantage of the opportunity to learn from the "University of Public Life". She was generous in her affirmations of her fellow leaders and she almost always spoke with a fire in her belly and a tear in her eye. She deeply understood that both charity and justice work are essential components of Catholic Social Teaching and she lived these components out through her countless volunteer hours with OTOC, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Humble Jumble Store. Rest in Power Susan, and say hello to Rod for us. <3

 

"OTOC creates the space for me to combine my interest in politics with my passion for social justice. It's a way to stop complaining and do something!" - Susan Kuhlmann

"In my nearly six years with OTOC, there were only a handful of meetings that Susan didn't attend. For more than 30 years, she was a steady, faithful presence; always showing up, and always engaged. Susan had a remarkable drive to grow as a leader. Even when she doubted herself, she faced challenges head-on, never hesitating to ask for guidance and always eager to learn. She carried deep gratitude for those who taught her and never held back her encouragement or praise in return. I will miss her sharp humor, her generous laugh, her fierce sense of justice, and above all, her unwavering commitment to personal growth and collective power." - Sarah Keeney, Lead Organizer, OTOC

"When Susan lived in my neighborhood, she was my partner many times knocking on doors and reaching out to residents in our part of town near Holy Name Parish.  She was a willing worker and a great encourager to me personally, frequently affirming my leadership on the Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Action Team of OTOC.  She cared about my family as well and often asked how our sons were doing. May she rest in power!" - Gloria Austerberry, Augustana Lutheran

"I remember Susan as a person for whom, being a leader in Omaha Together One Community was a core part of her spirit and her identity. When her congregation was no longer affiliated with OTOC, she engaged her creative imagination and action to became a founding leader of a new group simply called FRIENDS OF OTOC.  Susan had an unusual gift for affirming others. In this day of quick texts and short emails, she instead would pick up the phone make a call and verbally tell me how much she appreciated the work I was doing or how well I had chaired a meeting, or how much something that I had said was inspiring to her. I will miss those phone calls. May she rest in power!" - Rosie Volkmer, St. Pius X

"The first meaningful conversation I remember having with Susan Kuhlman occurred shortly after she stepped down from serving as OTOC Co-Chair, probably in around 1998. I asked Susan how her term as co-chair had gone and she responded, “I did not learn as much as I wanted to.”

That response stuck with me because it was the first time I heard anyone measure their success in a leadership position by how much she had learned. Susan’s response helped me to begin to understand that primary leaders in broad-based, faith-based organizing lead because they want to learn and grow into the best version of themselves." - Kevin Graham, First United Methodist Church

"I met Susan over twenty years ago through our membership in Omaha Together One Community (OTOC). A strong advocate for social justice, Susan never lost her enthusiasm for building Omaha into a community that worked for all of its citizens. She and I once walked together through the Holy Name neighborhood trying to convince the residents to get out and vote. When I reminded her of this years later Susan replied,“Yep, that’s us. A couple of street walkers.” Susan inspired me with her passion and dedication, and I will miss her greatly." - Allison Latenser, Friends of OTOC, formerly Temple Israel. 

"My memories of Susan include her consistent presence at OTOC Leadership meetings, and her willingness to help in any way she could.  At some point, I decided it was past time for me to have a 1-1 meeting with her.  We met at a coffee shop.  These meetings are generally to last 30-45 minutes.  Neither of us had pressing engagements, so we concluded the meeting 2+ hours later!  My take away from the meeting was not only admiration for Susan's energy, but awareness of her deep concern for the world as it is, and her deep passion for changing it into the world as we would like for it to be.  
In one recent conversation, she showed me both her capacity to be vulnerable about her fears and to display her white-hot, visceral anger about what was going on around her. Thankfully, she did not accept nor rely upon violence for the transformation of the world.  Instead, she chilled her anger into freezing cold resoluteness to work for needed change, along with others, in an effective grassroots organizing entity, OTOC. I am so grateful that I have known her." - Mary Spurgeon, First United Methodist Church
"While Susan was one of the "warmest" humans I have ever encountered, it was her "freezing cold" resoluteness and her dedication to making her corner of the world a better place that has inspired me since meeting her. Rest in power Susan…the power of Love! - Cindy Johnson, St. Pius X Catholic Church

"I have many memories of Susan as an OTOC leader and as a journalist.  My favorite memory, which I shared with Susan a few months ago, after Rod’s death, was from a 3-day training out at Mahoney Park. Susan, I and another OTOC leader shared a cabin for the training.  At the end of one day (probably happened every day), Rod called Susan and they flirted on the phone like young teenagers.  Their love and passion for each other was clear and it was so refreshing to see. Their love was so deep. She was such a special person." - Cheri Cody, Second Unitarian

"I have been a friend of Susan’s since 1984 when her daughter Kelly and my son Collin were in 1st grade together at Holy Name. Susan was one of the first people to become involved in OTOC. Holy Name was one of the first institutions to join. She was always a proponent of “power the the people”.

Being around the neighborhood of HN, housing was a major issue in the 1980’s. After house meetings we began to do research and tracked code violations that were not responded to for months and even years. Her common decency and the belief in the dignity of all people made Susan a great voice for OTOC in presentations to the city council, county board and the code enforcement officials. Susan spoke often of the needed demolitions and pressing the city to include these dollars in the budget. We came to the realization that we were not going to “demo” our neighborhoods out of these problems. Our next steps were to research cities with rental inspections and registrations. We began to present information and influence the Mayor and city council that this registration and inspection ordinance will benefit all of Omaha. This victory was long in coming and has helped Omaha bringing safe housing to all of Omaha.

Susan was reserved and on the shy side but when she spoke on what she believed in her voice was strong and assured. Susan was a student of life, she listened, she studied and gave thought to solutions that we presented in our Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization Team. Susan shared her time and talents throughout her life. She was a great listener and had empathy for everyone’s problems. She will be sorely missed by friends and family alike." - Karen McElroy, Friends of OTOC, formerly Holy Name Church. 

 

Susan was born and raised in Dawson, NE. In 1970, she married Rodney Kuhlmann and spent the rest of her life loving him.

She worked as a journalist, was active in the Catholic Church, and was an advocate for social causes.

She is survived by her four daughters; 10 grandchildren; and sister Janie.

Visitation will be Thursday, July 31, 2025 from 9:30-10AM at Forest Lawn Funeral Home with funeral service beginning at 10AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) or Holy Name St. Vincent de Paul Society.