Marlys Grell

Marlys Eileen Grell, 83, of Fort Collins, CO, finished her earthly life on September 17, 2023. She was born March 12, 1940 during a snowstorm at her family's farm, a few miles west of Schleswig Iowa, to George and Lucille Else. Marlys grew up on the farm and, in high school, excelled at basketball and played the snare drum in marching band. She excelled academically as well; she was the salutatorian of her class! After graduating, Marlys finished a program at a business college and fell in love with and married Lyle Grell from Ricketts Iowa. They had two children, Wendy and Cary, and lived in five different cities/towns in Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa. Marlys was predeceased by her parents George and Lucille (Hansen) Else, her daughter Wendy Grell, her brother Morelle Else, her brother-in-law Deane Grell, her step mother Edna (Nehls) Else, her step brothers Dale Huebner and Tom Sullivan, her step sister Mary (Geary) Huebner, and her nieces Julie Grell and Renee (Else) Meyer. Marlys worked as a clerical supervisor for the Iowa Department of Corrections until retirement. Afterwards, she and Lyle moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. They were married for more than 63 years! Marlys enjoyed volunteering, traveling, dancing, watching sports, attending theater, playing games and especially visiting family and friends. She had a reputation for being quite lucky at card games. If someone else was especially lucky, Marlys would exclaim "You live in a tree!!". No one knew the source of the saying, but her family all liked it so much that it's become a regular saying for us; even her granddaughters! Marlys's Christian faith was always important to her and she was ready to meet Jesus during her last days. She always put others before herself. Members of her church might be interested to know that Marlys worked as Pastor Tim's administrative assistant for a couple years, a position for which she refused to take any payment! If asked to sum up her life in three words, she would likely say "God is good!". Memorial Service: 10:30 A.M. on Monday, October 23, 2023 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Collins, CO. Service officiant: Pastor Mike Curtis Service Live Stream Link: https://live.redeemerconnect.com/ Those who wish to donate funds in-memoriam can do so via Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, CO.