Marian Marquardt

Marian Irene Collins Marquardt, 94, of Julesburg, passed away on November 23, 2025, at the Sedgwick County Nursing Home in Julesburg, Colorado.

Marian was born February 20, 1931, at her grandparents' home southeast of Julesburg, Colorado, to William "Lee" Collins and Mary L.(Daum) Collins. She attended country grade School at District 51, and later Sedgwick County High School in Julesburg, graduating with the class of 1948. Marian was baptized into Christ and confirmed in the faith on April 28, 1948, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Julesburg.

Marian taught school at District 6 south of Julesburg for a short time. On March 19, 1950, she married Ralph Eugene Marquardt at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Julesburg. After their marriage, the couple moved to a farm nine miles south of Elwood, Nebraska, which was the homestead of Ralph's grandfather. They lived on this farm for five years. During this time, their children, Terry and Connie, were born. In 1956, they moved to the Julesburg area, where their children, Steven and Sue, were born.

Marian was a teacher at Sedgwick County Training Institute (ECSDD), Al-Mar school in Ovid, and later at Sedgwick County Workshop in Julesburg. She retired in 1998 after working for ECSDD for 31 years.

Marian was active in her church and community. She volunteered at the Welcome Center and with the Orphan Grain Train. She belonged to the Miriam Circle at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and played in a bridge club for many years. She was also a longtime 4-H leader in Entomology and Foods. Marian especially enjoyed traveling with her children to Europe after retiring.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, who passed away in 1994; her father and mother; and her daughter, Connie Juhl, in 2020; and a daughter-in-law, Elisa Marquardt in 2022.

Survivors include her daughter, Sue (Roger) Freitag of Parker, Colorado; sons, Terry Marquardt of Cary, North Carolina, and Steven Marquardt of Indianapolis, Indiana; siblings, Lavern Zeke (Mary) Collins of Julesburg, Janet Geiser of Longmont, and William (Mary) Collins of Tucson, AZ; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren; along with many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Julesburg, with Pastor Trenton D. Christensen officiating. Committal will follow at the Hillside Cemetery in Julesburg.

Memorials are suggested to the Orphan Grain Train or the Fort Sedgwick Historical Society. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsjulesburg.com, where the services will be streamed live.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Julesburg is in charge of arrangements.