Marilyn Bruny

Our Loving Mom and Grandma, Marilyn Ruth Bruny, passed away March 9, 2021 at home in Fort Collins, Colo. at the age of 92, of natural causes, after a brief period of declining health. Marilyn was born July 20, 1928 in a farmhouse in Venango, Neb., to Anton and Maria (Oppelland) Ockinga, both descendants of German immigrant families. Marilyn was the 11th, and longest surviving, of 12 siblings. She grew up on farms in western Nebraska and southeastern Wyoming. After high school graduation in Huntley, Wyo., she attended a year of business college in Denver, and then started working for the State of Wyoming at the Capitol Building in Cheyenne. While working there, she met her future husband, Thomas “Tom” W. Bruny, who also worked for the State of Wyoming. They were married May 30, 1951 in Torrington, Wyo. Tom passed away on Nov. 24, 1998 after 47 years of marriage. Tom continued his employment with the State of Wyoming with positions in Cheyenne, Thermopolis, Evanston and then back in Cheyenne. During this time, five children were born: Gregory, Thomas, Steven, Randall and Barbara. In 1970, the Bruny family moved to Fort Collins when Tom accepted a position in financial administration at Colorado State University. Tom and Marilyn were longtime CSU Rams supporters, and all five of their children graduated from CSU. Shortly after arriving in Fort Collins, Marilyn started working for a medical practice that was to grow into Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies, where she retired after 20 years as Medical Records Manager. She developed many long-term friendships with colleagues at OCR. The Bruny family home of almost 30 years was in University Acres, but after Tom’s passing, Marilyn moved to a patio home on Iva Court and lived there independently for the next 16 years, until she downsized her living and moved in with her daughter, Barbara Casale, and family. After five years with Barbara and family, she moved to Assisted Living at Columbine Commons in Windsor, where she lived until the last weeks of her life, when she moved back to her daughter’s house so she could again enjoy in-person visits from family members. Marilyn was a 50-year member of Saint John’s Lutheran Church, and was active in the quilters group and other ministries. Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband Tom (1998) and son Randy (2016). She is survived by her children Greg (Ruth Ann), Tom (Daniel Burnett) of Las Vegas, Steven (Mary Lynn) of Boulder, and Barbara (John) Casale; and grandchildren Tim Bruny, Lori Lopez, Alex Bruny, Nick Bruny, Austyn Casale, Connor Casale, Sydney Bruny; and six great-grandchildren. Marilyn’s kindness, humor, intelligence, guidance and love will be missed by all. Services for Marilyn will be planned for a later time.