Larry Marusik was born in La Grange, Texas, on March 21, 1950. He married Diane Ilse on April 17, 1971, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellinger, Texas. Larry and Diane were blessed with three children—daughter, Dawn, and twin sons, Corey and Curt.

Larry served in the Army Air National Guard for six years. He worked his entire life as a welder and fabricator in Houston, Texas, until he retired in June of 2012.

Larry had a unique gift. When he saw something he liked, like a barbecue pit or a swing or some bench he saw on the streets of Fredericksburg, Texas, he didn’t just go buy it. He studied it, he specked it out, and he built it from whatever materials he could find.

However, after 2012, Larry was never truly retired. Larry and Diane moved back to their hometown of Ellinger in 2014, where he spent much of his time after retirement continuing to remain busy. He even designed the home they built in Ellinger on a piece of paper. He continued to work with his hands in his shop, always finding some new project to keep him busy and active with his hands. He rarely met an idea he could not build.

He was very active in the community, volunteering with the Ellinger Chamber of Commerce for many different fundraisers. He was also on the Parish Council for St. Mary’s Catholic Church and volunteered regularly at the food pantry in Fayetteville, Texas. He enjoyed serving once a month to help distribute food to those in need. He enjoyed hunting in his pasture and at his deer lease in Doss, Texas.
Larry served his last four years on the Ellinger Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed serving and answering calls to help those in need. He was an active member of the department and always took time to actively participate in department meetings and activities. While on a routine call on March 10, 2018, he was injured in the line of duty and paid the ultimate price while helping others. He succumbed to his injuries on March 23, 2018. This was Larry, always helping others, even at the end.