Maryanna Yauk

Maryanna Yauk passed away on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. She was born on October 8, 1927 to Jake and Emma (Honstein) Boltz in Windsor, Colorado.

She graduated from Windsor High School in 1945 and the Famous Artists School, a 3-year course out of Westport, Connecticut in 1971, specializing in fine arts painting.

On August 18, 1946 she married Walter H. Yauk at Zion’s Evangelical Church in Windsor, Colorado. They later became members of Bethel Lutheran Church. Their four children, Wayne, Adrienne, Cynthia and Eric were raised in Windsor.

Maryanna was a talented artist whose accomplishments were featured in many articles in the Greeley Tribune and the Windsor Beacon. She was a charter member and first president of the Windsor Art League; founder and charter member and past president of the Greeley Art Association and the Greeley Progressive Art League; member of the Weld County Art Association; and fine arts chairman of the Windsor Woman’s club.

Her art filled her home and continues to fill the homes of her children and friends. Her art has been exhibited at numerous galleries, banks and libraries (including the First National Bank of Windsor and the Windsor Library) and most recently she was honored at the Windsor Art Museum with her juried entries.

She will be remembered by her children and anyone who knew her as, not only an artist, but a loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother (Oma), and great grandmother. She was a gardener/landscaper, wonderful cook (best cherry kuchen and krautburgers ever, which had to be square and ‘pinched’ just right), poet, author, entertainer (performing monologues at community events), a seamstress, designer, knitter/crocheter, quilter (winning a blue ribbon in 1977 at the Colorado Women’s Club convention in Greeley for her entry of a bicentennial quilted bedspread that took her 2 ½ years to complete), musician (without ever having learned to read music), collector, avid reader, philanthropist and faithful believer in God.

Growing up during the Depression influenced her the most and instead of throwing things away, she always considered how something could be used and turned into some form of art. She was quoted in the 1971 Greeley Tribune interview, “For heaven’s sake, don’t throw it away!” The slightest straw may be “just what I need” to complete an item of beauty.

She is survived by her four children: Wayne, Adrienne (Bill), Cynthia, Eric (Sonja), seven grandchildren: Dawn (JD), Dave (Katie), Lauren (Kenlyn), Jacob (Jessica), Michael, Rebecca (Neil), Emily; and six great grandchildren: Naomi, Jesse, Levi, Analise, Alexa, and Nolan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters: Edna, Arlene, Janice, brothers: Edward (infant), Harold, Glen, a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law.

Services will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church, 328 Walnut Street, Windsor, CO on Thursday, February 13 at 10:30. Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery (immediate family only). A luncheon will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish to contribute something in her memory, please consider Bethel Lutheran Church, 328 Walnut Street, Windsor, CO 80550 or Windsor/Severance Food Pantry, 1051 Walnut Street, Windsor, CO 80550.