Marilyn Colby

Marilyn Frances Colby (Musalek) of Manhattan, Kansas passed away on December 23, 2021 in Topeka, Kansas.

Marilyn was born April 8, 1951 to Frank Joe Musalek and Frances Iolene Roesch in Atwood, Kansas. Marilyn was raised in Goodland, Kansas and was a graduate of Goodland High School.  She attended Colby College where she earned her Licensed Practical Nursing degree and later graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. Marilyn was very passionate about nursing and proudly worked as a Registered Nurse and also served in the role of Director of Nursing throughout her career.

On June 20, 1969, Marilyn was united in marriage to Darryl Eugene Colby. Together, they shared forty-three years of marriage before Darryl’s passing in 2012. Darryl and Marilyn proudly raised their six children; Susan, Sherri, Steven, Stacey, Shawn and Scott, in Kensington, Kansas before relocating back to Marilyn’s hometown of Goodland, Kansas in 1999.

Faith, family and friends were a very important part of Marilyn’s life. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kensington, Kansas and Calvary Gospel Church in Goodland, Kansas.  She was also a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary of Goodland. Marilyn enjoyed playing BINGO, card games, camping and fishing, traveling with family, watching car races and attending sporting events, particularly those of her children and grandchildren. Most importantly, Marilyn was dedicated to being a supportive mother and loving grandmother to her grandchildren; Ryan, Christopher, Cecil, Xavier, Natasha, Trenton, Emersyn, Preslee, Broxton, Macie and Isabelle.

Preceding her in death were her parents Frank and Frances Musalek, husband Darryl Colby, daughter Susan Colby, son Steven Colby, grandson Xzaren Colby, Sister Debbie Snethen and nephew Marshall Snethen.

Marilyn is survived by her daughter Sherri Smith of Manhattan Kansas; son Stacey (Melissa) Colby of Smith Center; son Shawn (Melissa) Colby of Manhattan, Kansas; son Scott (Stacie) Colby of Layton, Utah; brother Frank (Jody) Musalek of Hays, Kansas; and sisters Janice (Harlan) Schwertfeger of Hutchinson, Kansas, Jeanette (Varden) Bogart of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Becky (Greg) Spady of Hastings, Nebraska, Linda (Brian) Rumpel of Goodland, Kansas  daughter –in-law Stacy Colby of McClave, CO, and 11 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.   On January 1, 2022 Marilyn’s grandson Ryan Smith passed away in Topeka, KS.