WOODS CROSS—Susan Koehn, a former Utah legislator and Woods Cross City Council member, passed away in January from breast cancer and left behind a legacy of service to the community and the state. Much of her focus was advocating for children, especially those with special needs. 

“She was raised with the idea of public service,” said her husband David Copeland. “She grew up serving in the community. That’s what her family did. That’s who they were.”

Her dad was Brant Johnson who was with the Utah Highway Patrol for the first half of his career, he said. “The man running for Sheriff was killed in a deer hunting accident and really without warning, her father was asked to run. Susan was 16 or 17 when her dad ran for elected office. Her mom worked at the Juvenile Court.”

Susan worked for the courts when she was young, said Copeland. “In her 20s she worked for the Davis County Sheriff’s Office in the jail.”

In 1994 she was elected to the Woods Cross City Council. “She loved that,” he said. “If the streets weren’t plowed or the street lights were out she liked it so much that she could make a couple of phone calls to get that fixed.”

In 1995, Governor Mike Leavitt appointed her to the Utah House of Representatives to fill the seat left vacant by Karen Smith, who had moved. “She was always involved in the Republican Party. Susan was elected again and again.” She retired from the legislature in 2000.

“Susan was a hard worker, bright and engaged in policy,” said former Utah House Speaker Marty Stephens. “She was the Rules Committee Chair and addressed important legislation. If there were more bills than we could possibly get to, she would sift through and prioritize them. She was a delight to work with.”

She was very proud of her legislative service, said Copeland. “She enjoyed every second of it even if neighbors were telling her not to do this or do that. She knew that was what she signed up for.”

Susan was involved in all 75 House races for two cycles, he said. “She and Bryan Gray would drive up and down the state and spend hours going from candidate to candidate to make sure their campaign ads were the way they wanted it. She worked hard for all of these folks. She wanted them to succeed.”

She co-founded a lobbying group after leaving the legislature, said Copeland. “They focused on education and rebuilding transportation along the Wasatch Front.”

Susan loved being able to serve, he said. “But it was her family that she cared about the most. When I came into her life she had three kids. I had the opportunity to raise the teens to adulthood.”

Susan’s daughter Katy married Charlie Skinner, a North Salt Lake City Police Officer in 2007. He died in 2008 in the line of duty. “They had 3-week-old twins,” Copeland said. “They (Katy and the twins) moved in with us. Susan and I got to raise the babies together. It was an amazing, magical time.” Katy passed away in 2024.

At 48, Susan was diagnosed with Triple-negative breast cancer, he said. “The most aggressive form. She went through Chemo and radiation. That gave me an extra 15 years with her – but it just destroys you.”

The cancer came back this year and went into the kidney, said Copeland. “She had one kidney removed but unfortunately she never was able to fully recover from that.”

Her greatest gift was her family, he said. “She cared deeply about their life and success. I miss her profoundly. She made a lasting impact that we’ll be able to keep.”