Suzanne L. Berger

Suzanne L. Berger (née Linklater), age 83, of Bainbridge Township, passed away on September 6, 2026, peacefully surrounded by the love of her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, William E. Linklater and Dorothy “Ruth” Linklater (née Knapp). She was the loving wife and best friend of William “Bill” Berger, Jr.; devoted mother of Katy (Michael) McGrath, Sara (Ryan) Craig, and Gordon (Kathy Berta) Berger; cherished sister of Nancy (Walter) Polansky and Richard “Bruce” (Karen) Linklater; steadfast grandmother to Kaitlin (Colin) Caniglia, Rourke McGrath, Rowan Craig, and Claudia Berta; and the proud great-grandmother of Clare Caniglia as well as a beloved aunt and friend to many.

A graduate of Solon High School, Sue attended Miami University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. It was there, in an anthropology class, that she met the love of her life, Bill. Their friendship grew into a lifelong partnership and marriage filled with family, adventure, service, and a shared curiosity about the world. Sue later earned her master’s degree in Special Education from Kent State University.

Sue began her teaching career in Dayton before coming home to the Cleveland area to teach in the Orange City Schools. After taking time to raise her children, she returned to the classroom as an elementary teacher in the Kenston Schools. She brought her love of nature and learning into her classroom, creating an environment where curiosity and hands-on discovery came alive. Her menagerie of classroom pets included gerbils, turtles, and even hissing cockroaches—a perfect reflection of her belief that learning should be memorable, engaging, and fun.

Her dedication to children extended well beyond the classroom. Sue was an active part of her own children’s extracurriculars, volunteering as a Kenston Athletic Association softball, baseball and basketball coach and as a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader. Her commitment to scouting was especially meaningful to her, and she earned the prestigious Boy Scouts of America Order of the Arrow and Wood Badge.

When Sue retired from teaching in 2001, she simply began a new career—one devoted to giving back to her community. Never one to stop learning, she earned a Veterinary Technician degree from Cuyahoga Community College, combining her lifelong love of animals with her desire to serve. Together with Bill, she embraced volunteerism as a full-time calling. She generously shared her time and talents with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Geauga Park District, Geauga County Library Foundation, City Mission, and many other organizations and causes close to her heart. Her dedication to the Geauga Park District was recognized in 2025 when she and Bill received the Robert McCullough Lifetime Achievement Award, presented annually to volunteers who have given a lifetime of service.

Travel and adventure wove through Sue and Bill’s family life. When their children were young, summer vacations often became educational adventures, with the family camping while visiting National Parks, historic sites, and, on occasion, enjoying a beach. As their children grew and the nest emptied, Sue and Bill expanded their adventures, traveling throughout the world with cameras in hand. Sue loved sharing her sense of adventure with her grandchildren, whether close to home or abroad. She also found a way to educate the broader community through travelogues presented through the Geauga Park District, bringing the places she and Bill had explored to life for others through her photography and stories.

Sue’s faith was an important foundation throughout her life. She was a longtime member of Pioneer Memorial Church, where she expressed her devotion through both worship and service. Her commitment to helping others extended far beyond her local community. As part of a mission team with Pioneer Memorial Church and Living Waters for the World, she traveled to Honduras to help install water treatment facilities and bring clean water to communities in need. She also organized Pioneer’s team and participated in medical mission fairs through the Presbyterian Synod of the Covenant, serving migrant families in western Ohio.

Sue was a talented and creative crafter, carver, and artist. She enjoyed journaling, scrapbooking, sketching, and working with watercolors, always finding joy in creating something with her hands. In her later years, one of her favorite projects was making fleece hats, which she sold to raise funds for the Living Waters mission. While she enjoyed the creativity, the friendships that grew through these projects meant the most to her. Crafts became another way to connect with others, share her talents, and learn.

For Sue, volunteering was never simply about giving her time. It was about making a difference, sharing what she loved, and leaving the world a little better than she found it. Whether she was teaching a child, hosting “Grammy Camp,” exploring the outdoors, helping a neighbor, traveling the world, creating something with her hands, or working alongside Bill on a community project, she approached life with curiosity and a generous heart. Above all, Sue’s greatest legacy will be found in the people she inspired, the adventures she shared, the friendships she nurtured, and the love she gave throughout her life.

She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Family and friends will be received at St. John Funeral Home, 16381 Chillicothe Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023, on Friday, September 11, from 4-7pm. Funeral services will be held at Pioneer Memorial Church, 35100 Solon Road, Solon, OH 44139, on Saturday, September 12, at 11am, with a luncheon to follow.

Instead of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Geauga County Library Foundation/Dolly Parton Imagination Library https://geaugalibrary.net/about/foundation/donate/or Pioneer Memorial Church/Living Waters Mission. Please send checks for the Living Waters Mission to: Pioneer Memorial Church, 35100 Solon Road, Solon, OH 44139.