Jeffrey Maruska
(June 15, 1964 - April 28, 2010)

Jeffrey Maruska, age 45, of Thief River Falls, and formerly from Fosston, MN passed away on Wednesday (April 28th) at his home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday (May 3rd) at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. Aage Carlsen officiating. Interment will be in Rosehill Cemetery, Fosston. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with a 5:30 p.m. prayer service on Sunday (May 2nd) at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston. There will also be reviewal for one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at carlinhoialmen.com. Memorials are preferred to the ALS Association Minnesota Chapter, 333 Washington Ave. N., Suite 105, Minneapolis, MN 55401.

Jeffrey Lloyd Maruska was born on June 15, 1964 in Fosston, Minnesota to parents Wilfred and Shirley (Sovick) Maruska. He was baptized and confirmed in to the Christian faith at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston. He grew up and attended school in Fosston, graduating with the class of 1983.

Jeff attended the Alexandria Technical College and received a diploma in the machine shop program in 1985. He received a diploma in refrigeration and air conditioning from the Moorhead Technical College in 1988.

He moved to Reno, Nevada where he worked for G&G Heating and Weaklands Heating and Air. He enjoyed trips to Lake Tahoe, spending time in the mountains and camping and jet skiing at Pyramid Lake. He returned to Minnesota in 2002, moving to Thief River Falls where he worked for Brodin Sheet Metal until August of 2008 when he retired shortly after being diagnosed with ALS.

Jeff enjoyed snowmobiling, skiing, ice racing, and anything outdoors. He especially enjoyed deer hunting and four wheeling on “the farm” and he loved riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. All of these activities included spending time with family and friends who will miss him so much.

Jeff passed away on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at his home in Thief River Falls at the age of 45 years.

Survivors include his father, Wilfred of Fosston; one brother, Gary (Katherine) of Scottsville, NY; three sisters, Nancy (Harlan) Kirkeide of Thief River Falls, MN, Wendy (Randy) Lee of Erskine, MN, and Tammy (Joe) Schroeder of Woodbury, MN; nieces and nephews, Nathan (Jessie) Pederson, Brian (Jenny) Lee, Brady and Kendra Lee, Mitchell Vangsness, Jacob and Rebecca Schroeder, and Fiona Maruska; four great nieces and one great nephew and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley; brother, Kevin; and his grandparents.

Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Jeff’s cousins.

Active Pallbearers will be Tom Rambeck, Jimmy Fisher, Darrell Donnell, Richard Blaser, Jesse Maruska, and Brenda Nelson.