Marian Martha Vrbas Ruda

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Aug. 15, 1913 - Oct,12, 2013

ATWOOD, Kansas -- Marian Martha (Vrbas) Ruda, the fifth child of 13, was born to Frank and Mary Bartosovsky Vrbas on Aug. 15, 1913, in her grandmother's home in the Studer Settlement, Kansas, and Marian's Heart of Gold stopped beating on Saturday Oct. 2, 2013, at the Rawlins County Hospital, Atwood, Kansas, at the age of 100 years, 1 month and 27 days.

Marian was baptized as an infant on Aug. 17,1913, at St. John's Nepomucene Catholic Church, north of Atwood.

Marian and her siblings walked one mile to Forrest Hill School. After the completion of eighth grade, Marian worked at her Grandmother Vrbas' home. Then she spent her other teen years helping to raise her younger siblings. After the evening chores were done, the Vrbas home was filled with laughter, dancing and singing as her Father and brother, Frank, would play the accordion and her Mother on the piano.

Watching her older sisters go to dances, it was finally Marian's time to have time on the dance floor. While at the Tin Hall, she met Anton J. Ruda, the love of her life.

Anton and Marian were married on Aug. 25, 1936, at St. John's Nepomucene Catholic Church. The young married couple began their life southeast of Atwood to start a family farm. They were blessed with seven children in a 21-year span: Janice Antoinette, Anthony Joseph, Kenneth Frank, David Charles, Betsy Ann, Victoria Lynne and Carla Marie.

Anton was busy farming while Marian was raising her family plus spending time on the farm always helping Anton whenever she could.

After Anton and Marian's retirement from farming, they and Carla moved into Atwood and began their time visiting their children and enjoyed playing bingo in the surrounding towns.

Anton died on Jan. 16, 1980, at the age of 70. Marian continued her love of bingo with many special bingo buddies. Her passion continued well into her 90s.

Marian was a member of Sacred Heart Church and a member of the Christian Mother Altar Society. Marian's faith grew with each year. Her love of Jesus brought her great comfort as she prayed the rosary for family and friends during her life. Marian was a melanoma survivor of 36 years and a breast cancer survivor.

Marian had many other hobbies: reading, watching game shows, seek a-word puzzles, checking out different casinos and writing poetry. Her poetry was always about her family. She was a very loving mother to her children and truly enjoyed spending time with all her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

This is a poem that Our Mom dearly loves:

Remember friends as you pass by

As you are now so once was I

As I am now so you must be

So prepare for death and follow me

Remember friends' eternity.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, Anton J. Ruda (Jan. 16, 1980); her son, Tony (May 4, 2008); brothers and spouses, Frank and Beata, William, Bernard and Ruth, Charlie and Raymond Vrbas; sisters and spouses, Helen and Jim Horinek, Alice and Rudolph Horinek, Antionette and Lew Horinek, Gertrude and Joe Havel, Adella and Everett Harry, Martha and Bud Souchek, and Frances and John Ham.

Those remaining to celebrate her life include her children and their spouses: Janice and Ferrell Shuck, Lee's Summit, Missouri; Ken and Shirley Ruda, Atwood; Dave and Pam Ruda, Lancaster, Kentucky; Betsy Whitaker of Atwood; Vicki and Regan Koch, Rose Hill, Kansas; Carla and Bill Focke, Albuquerque, New Mexico; grandchildren, spouses and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren: Beverly Shuck, Kansas City, Missouri, Greg and Nikki Shuck, Osage, Missouri, Truman Shuck, Urbana, Illinois, Jefferson Shuck, Prescott, Arizona, Audrey, Kayden, and Chloe Shuck, Osage, Kurt, Cindy and Blake Heier, Fenton, Michigan; Julie, Eric, Erica and Abby Doane, Lee's Summit, Missouri, Robin Ruda and Hisham Ahmed, Desoto, Texas, Chad and Babette Ruda, Phoenix, Arizona, Lori and Alissa Curry, Burlington, Colorado, Casey Curry, North Platte, Nebraska, Natalie, John, Megan and Trevor Seybold, Helotes, Texas, Ken Ruda II, Leawood, Kansas, James, Austin, and Brock Ruda, Wichita, Kansas, Kathy, Deone and Gus Horinek, Kaity, Maddie, Ashey Livas, Atwood, Cristy, Matt, Tyler, Kylie, and Ella Park, Oakley, Kansas; Travis, Vanessa, Caden and Zdravko Ruda, Lancaster, Kentucky, Emily and Lee Love, Asheville, North Carolina; Audra, Tom, Carly and Katie Winder, Marshfield, Wisconsin, Robert Whitaker, Atwood, Jamie, Joe, Joey and Jordan Anderson, Wichita; Nissa, Eric, Levi and Weston Alfaro, Wichita; sister-in-laws, Edith Vrbas, Atwood, Mary Vrbas, Palisade, Nebraska, and Carolyn Vrbas, Ottawa, Kansas; nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

A vigil and rosary lead by Deacon Mark Vrbas were Oct. 15 at Baalmann Mortuary.

A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial took place Oct. 16 at Sacred Heart Church with Father Nick Parker, Father Dana Clark and Deacon Mark Vrbas as celebrants. For the Mass, Marvin Green and Phil Studer were lectors and Cecilia Sawyer and Cole Sramek were servers.

Extraordinary minister of communion was Patty Skolout. Marian's great-grandchildren presented the gifts. The music liturgy included Sacred Heart Choir with Diane Sis as organist and Roger Prideaux as cantor. Soloists were Vicki Koch and Ken Ruda II.

Caster bearers were Ken Ruda II, James Ruda, Chad Ruda, Travis Ruda, Robert Whitaker and Tyler Park.

A memorial has been established in Marian's name at the Good Samaritan Society and at the Rawlins County Health Center.

Baalmann Mortuary of Atwood was in charge of the arrangements.

Our Mom loved to write and read poetry. This is a poem that she clipped from the Square Deal in 2003.

SAFELY HOME

Author Unknown

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;

Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,

Every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever,

Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly

Trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! But Jesus' love illumined

Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came himself to meet me

In the way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus' arm to lean on,

Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely

For I love you dearly still;

Try to look beyond earth's shadows,

Pray to trust our Father's Will.

There is work still waiting for you,

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth-

You shall rest in Jesus' land.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you Home;

Oh, the rapture of that meeting,

Oh, the joy to see you come!

We miss you, Love

Janice, Ken, Dave,

Betsy, Vicki, Carla,

Grandchildren,

Great-grandchildren,

Great-great grandchildren,

Nieces, Nephews, Cousins,

Family and Friends.