Marvis M Duus

Marvis M. Duus, daughter of William and Edith (Peebles) Luhman was born on November 14, 1932, on the family farm east of Graettinger, Iowa. She passed away on April 15, 2025, at her home in Graettinger, Iowa, at the age of 92.
When Marvis was a child, her family moved from east of town to a farm south of Graettinger, which remains in the Luhman family today. Marvis attended country school until she entered high school in Graettinger, Iowa, graduating in 1951.
Marvis was united in marriage to Richard L. Duus on November 20th, 1953, at the United Methodist Church in Graettinger, IA. She was a lifelong member. Marvis was also a member of the Naomi Circle and the United Methodist Women.
After marriage, Marvis moved with Richard to a farm located further west of Graettinger. She assisted with the farm the remainder of her time residing there. Marvis and her husband also enjoyed going on yearly fishing trips to Leech Lake, MN and Potato Lake, MN with family. Marvis was a master "fish cleaner" and attracted a crowd to watch her filet Northern and many other fish. Rarely did you find a bone in her masterwork. She enjoyed having fish frys for neighbors and also chicken dinners after a day of cleaning chickens to freeze for the winter.
Richard and Marvis enjoyed playing cards with neighborhood couples and with her friends at the Senior Center in Graettinger, Iowa. She was always excited for the Graettinger Times to come out the next week to announce the results of her games.
Marvis had a lifelong passion for sewing, which included making clothing for the family, Barbie clothes, Care Bears, baby quilts, and little pillows for grandchildren and friends. She was an expert at making beautiful quilts. She made it her goal to "hand stitch" the quilting for one quilt each winter.
Marvis also enjoyed growing a massive garden and canned/froze much of the crop that she grew. She was a very good cook and had a full meal on the table for most every meal. She was recognized at the Iowa State Fair for Grand Prize in Apple Pie baking and was featured in Our Iowa Magazine.
She and her church members also had a yearly activity of baking hundreds of apple pies a day to raise money for the church. Marvis was one of three pie crust masters, making up to 1500 pies in one season.
Marvis loved her family. She was able to be home with her children her entire life and provided many activities and learning opportunities for the things that she loved to do. She always took time out of her busy day for fun. Many of the grandkids would run for the deck of cards or Yahtzee and other board games for her to share a memory with them.
Marvis is survived by her children Kirk (Deb) Duus of Pinconning, Michigan; Kristyn Simington of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and Kevin (Tracey) Duus of Graettinger, Iowa; 10 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Gerda Luhman, of Graettinger and many nieces and nephews.
Marvis is preceded in death by her parents William and Edith, husband Richard; daughter Debra (Duus) Tweedy; son-in-law Randy Simington; sister Ina Mae (Bill) Voigt, and brothers, Roy Luhman and Fred (LaVonne) Luhman; and sisters-in-law Elvera (Emmet) Anderson and Virginia (Jerry) Norland.