Eva Marie Russ, 90, of Golden, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by the love of her family, on July 14, 2018. Eva was born in Crested Butte, Colorado on April 30, 1928. She was the daughter of Anton Christoff Sr. and Donna Sneler Christoff.

Eva’s early years were busy and active hiking and camping with her family in the summer. She and her friends would often pack a picnic breakfast and lunch and head out into the mountains for a fun day. She also loved skiing, snowshoeing, and skating in the winters. Eva was an accomplished pianist and organist and spent many hours as she got older playing the organ for various church functions.

She attended Crested Butte High School, where she participated in school plays and musicals. She graduated in the spring of 1945 and began her studies at Western State College in Gunnison a few weeks later. She has no idea how her parents handled all this but she didn’t ask questions.

Eva was an excellent student at Western State and won several scholarships and awards while she was there. She also had time for fun and adventures. She was a singer in the Mikado which she enjoyed very much and still talked about often in her later years. As a sophomore, she was selected to be one of two magicians’ assistants for Professor TK Wilson’s traveling Magic Show. She traveled around the state with the show performing for various civic and school groups. She was also active in her sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma and maintained that connection during her life. Her senior year, Eva was honored to be elected as Miss Western State College of 1949.She graduated with a BA and a Master’s degree in Business Education and Commerce in 1949. She went to summer school every session to accomplish this.

Eva married the love of her life, Frank Russ, when Frank returned from his stint in the Marines. They were married in 1950 and began their life’s journey together. They were sweethearts and friends, they built a home , a family, a business together and were partners in every sense of the word .I don’t know of many people that met their true love in the sand box and playground in first grade, but Frank claims to have known Eva was very special from those times.

Eva’s teaching career started in Crested Butte High School in the fall of 1949. From 1951 until 1954 she taught business classes at Gunnison High School. In 1954, the student’s selected her as favorite teacher and dedicated the year book to her. After Frank graduated from Western in 1954, Frank and Eva headed to Denver and Frank continued his education at the University of Denver and Eva got a teaching position at South High School. Eva taught at South High for a year and then turned her attention to her family as their first child arrived on the scene. For a time she taught and substituted at Littleton High School and then in 1959 she dedicated herself full time to homemaking.

For many years she was a dedicated wife and mother to Tom and Tammy, she served as room mother several times and also as PTA President. She was valuable staff support for Frank as they got their accounting and tax business off the ground and which still exists to this day, managed by their children. Frank and Eva had many adventures with their business, and many of their clients were with them for 50 plus years, and became good friends.

When Eva rejoined the workforce she was the Assistant Director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Lakewood. A job she really enjoyed and had fun working with the older folks. However, her true passion was educating young people and Eva went back to teaching in 1976. She began at Denver Lutheran High School as the head of the Business Department. She taught business classes, served as registrar and also sponsored the Red Cross Club for most of her time at Lutheran. Lutheran High School was a warm and welcoming place to Eva, even though she was the only Catholic on staff. She enjoyed her students and was a well-respected and dedicated teacher. She treasured her colleagues and developed many friendships that lasted her lifetime. She retired in 1993 after teaching for twenty-six years, seventeen of those at Lutheran.

Eva was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother. She was also a caring aunt, cousin and friend. Her family and friends were her top priority and she enjoyed being with them and always made things fun!! She enjoyed calligraphy, music, gardening and needlework. Eva was active in the St. Francis Circle at St. Jude Catholic Church for many years, helping make quilts and blankets for those in need. Her last Christmas, she presented her children and their families each a beautiful quilt that were her 50-year project. They are treasures!

The Terrific Trio as she called her three grandchildren were the joys of her life. She and Frank volunteered to help with babysitting responsibilities when necessary and Morgan, Justin and Emma were privileged to have that special care and attention.

Eva and her family have had a blessed life, full of hard work, lots of fun and good adventures, and wonderful family and friends to share it with. For that we thank God.

Eva was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years Frank, her parents, Anton and Donna Christoff, brother James Christoff, sister Genevieve Fowler, and son-in-law J. Reed Fink.

Eva is survived by her son Thomas (Sheryl) of Thornton, daughter Tamara of Golden, brother Anton Christoff of Fruita. Also, survived by grandchildren, Morgan and Justin Fink, and Emma Russ, as well as many other relatives and friends.

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