1956 - 2021
Marvanna Grusing, 64, daughter of the late Marvin H and Georgeanna Hudson Grusing, passed away peacefully in Colorado Springs on Sunday, January 10, 2021. Marvanna was one of the most delightful and genuinely caring people this world has ever known. She cultivated many lifelong friendships with her charisma, huge heart and generosity. She possessed an unparalleled zest for life, and her ever-positive attitude, energy and wry wit were infectious to all of those around her. She could somehow find humor in any situation, making things far more entertaining than they really were. Even over the last few years, when it became difficult for her to find the words, she was still able to make people smile and laugh. Marvanna’s love and compassion extended to both humans and animals, and she always had four-legged family members in the household.
In fact, her dear friend Jenny was fond of saying that if she died and came back, she’d want it to be as one of Marvanna’s dogs. Marvanna was also a very giving person, passionately volunteering at Habitat for Humanity for six years and working at the library in Colorado Springs for ten more. She particularly loved helping the kids at the library and even performed puppet shows for them. One can only imagine how wild and wacky those shows were! She loved to travel, especially to visit her family and friends, with Hawaii being at the top of her list. There, she was able to spend time with her dear friend Gayle. She also loved Italy, Spain, winter trips to Tucson, and visiting her Aunt Rita in Texas, where she played and partied with her three cousins – Karsten, Kevin and Kristina. From childhood on, a visit from Marvanna was always a much anticipated, exciting event for the whole family. Marvanna enjoyed camping all over Colorado with Lawrence Trujillo, her former husband, and she was adored by his family.
This was especially true for her grandnephew Victor and grandniece Breanna, who always called her Nanna. Lawrence referred to Marvanna as “a beautiful person with a beautiful soul.” She spent her later years with her longtime companion, Dennis Richardson, with whom she bought a mountain ranch in Lake George, built a great house, and enjoyed the outdoors. The two of them also took on the monumental task of managing the Grusing family’s farming operation near Burlington, Colorado after the passing of her father in late 2013. This was just three years after the passing of her beloved mother in late 2010. Marvanna was a devoted daughter to both of her parents, diligently and lovingly managing their care as they aged and became ill.
They were both extremely proud of the woman she had become and grateful to have the sort of daughter they could rely upon to provide them with the very best care in those final years. Marvanna is survived by Dennis Richardson, and her three cousins –Karsten Streufert, Kevin Streufert and Kristina McClure. She is also survived by three of her four “chosen” soul sisters from childhood - Gayle Dunn, Pam Luther and Jenny Swanson. Her fourth soul sister, Bev Newberry, predeceased Marvanna several years ago. Marvanna will be greatly missed by all. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Habitat for Humanity in Marvanna’s name. She would love that.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Saturday, January 23, 2021
Burlington United Methodist Church
290 13th Street
Burlington, Colorado, United States
