Jeanette Ann Maraschin

Jeannie Ann (Gosnell) Maraschin passed away unexpectedly and too soon at St. Mary’s Hospital December 11th 2021.

Mom was born January 6, 1944 to Howard and Martina (Klapwyk) Gosnell in Grand Junction and was joyfully raised in the country North of Fruita with two older brothers and a sister (Jimmy, Tommy, Betty) and two younger sisters (Patty and Cindy). Mom’s stories of growing up and “borrowing” the family horse to visit the neighbors or go to the big town of Fruita became more legendary as time went on. Mom was so proud of her Dutch heritage and siblings, the time they spent together as kids and later as adults. Mom used to talk about the railroad moving her family to Helper, Utah and her mom almost immediately moving them back.

Eventually the family moved into town and the kids scattered, but always remained close. As an adult, mom married her high school sweetheart Pier and they moved to Aspen with their first born son Chris and then back to Fruita where Jon came along. During this time, mom volunteered at the Fruita Elementary and eventually became the School Secretary, much to the chagrin of her two boys whose troublemaking always made it home to Pier before they did.

Mom was beloved by all of the kids and her coworkers: Mom eventually studied and received her real estate license and started her next great phase of life selling real estate with her sister Betty: They were always the top producers at whatever firm they landed at. Mom and Pier parted ways during this time, but remained friends. In the early 80’s when the local economy went to hell, mom met and married Duke Barham and they moved their company to Corpus Christi where Chris came down to work and Jon graduated high school. Mom and Duke moved to Casper then Odessa with the oil and gas industry and ultimately to Carbondale where mom worked for the Aspen Ski Company and truly found her joy of hiking, skiing and dancing while Duke moved on. Mom loved to dance (probably more than golf).

After Carbondale mom moved to Salt Lake where she began her career with First Security Leasing Company where she blossomed as a Commercial Banker/Leasing Specialist and Assistant Vice President; this is also where she found her love of golf. Mom could beat the crap out of that ball. Eventually, mom moved to Key Bank and was transferred to Denver where she met an amazing group of friends and spent every free moment going to concerts, dancing, volunteering, skiing, hiking and travelling to wine festivals and other events; she even learned to backpack. It was during this time that mom became the person that she was always meant to be. In retirement, mom moved back to Grand Junction to be close to her sons, their families and her grandchildren (Nic & Alyssa).

Once back in the valley, mom leaned in to everything; she joined clubs, volunteered at St. Mary’s, Heirlooms for Hospice and the Fruita Visitor Center while building a pet sitting business since all animals loved her and she them. The number of friends that mom had is something that should be in the Guinness Book of Records; there is literally nowhere in the Grand Valley that one can go where she didn’t have a friend and perhaps that is her most powerful legacy beyond her grandkids. If mom were here today, she would tell you to practice gratefulness, that meaning comes from struggle, friends make life bearable, a good glass of scotch doesn’t suck, and when all else fails……dance.

Jeannie is survived by her son Chris, his wife Kelly and their two children Nic and Alyssa Maraschin, her son Jon and his wife Kathy, and her 22-year old bundle of fur Annie who misses her terribly.

In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the charity of your choice in Jeannie’s name as a way of honoring her contribution to our community.