Marian J. Heusted

Marian Joyce Heusted (Glascock) Age 99 passed away peacefully at her home on November 2nd, 2025.She was born in West Union Iowa May 19th, 1926 to Ivan Glascock and Clara Glascock(Evers).

The family moved to Denver Colorado several years later and she lived the majority of her youth in Denver, but graduated from Greeley Colorado high school when her family moved there her senior year. After graduation she was accepted into St Luke’s hospital of Denver’s Army Nurse Corps cadet program and graduated in 1947 with her R.N. Diploma. She moved to Topeka and began what would become a highly successful and rewarding nursing career at the Topeka Veterans Administration hospital spanning 35 years. She worked her way up the ranks and at the time of her retirement in 1982 she was the Associate Chief Nurse over all the medical-surgical and long term care wards of the hospital. She met her husband Warren V. Heusted who was a nursing assistant at the time and they shared 44 years together, not only as husband and wife but as work mates at the VA, with she in nursing and he in administration, both in the only jobs they would ever have. Her legacy as a nurse lives on, with no fewer than 7 nurses in the family who were influenced by her, including 2 granddaughters currently enrolled in college nursing programs.

Marian was a 75 year member of the Topeka First United Methodist Church and held numerous church positions and served in many roles through the years. She had dozens of church friends spanning several generations. Even into her 90’s she was making hospital visits to members who were inpatients at local hospitals. She was a pillar of the Methodist Church and a shining example of a Christian woman.

Marian was a masterful seamstress and there was nothing she could not do with a needle and thread. This included everything from sewing merit badges on Boy Scout sashes to creating elegant and elaborate wedding gowns and prom dresses from scratch. After her retirement she ran a very successful word-of-mouth sewing business from her basement, it’s success due to the high quality work she produced and the fact that her prices were the very best in town.

Marian was a big fan of the Kansas City Royals, the KU Jayhawks, Carol Burnett, Clark Gable, Katherine Hepburn, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, “ As The World Turns”, Heath Toffee bars (or any chocolate), golden retrievers, purple iris, and her immaculately cultivated rose gardens.

She was preceded in death by her husband Warren (1993) and her son Ronald Wayne Heusted (Marla). Before his tragic death in April of this year Ron devoted his time to insuring his mothers needs were always met and her affairs were always in order. After his death Marla stepped up and continued her care seamlessly until the day she died. Marian is also survived by her daughter Diane Kay Payne (Bob) and son Dennis C. Heusted (Vicki) of Nampa , Idaho. After the death of her husband she and Diane lived together for over 20 years, forging a strong loving mother-daughter relationship that was highly beneficial to them both. When Denny moved away from Topeka in 1993 after graduating from nursing school Marian continued to be his strongest advocate and mentor, continually offering sage advice and guidance through the challenges and changes in his life. She is also survived by six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Whether you were a patient under her care, a family member, a colleague, friend or acquaintance, or just another Topekan she met on the street, Marian treated you with kindness, respect, dignity, compassion and love. She had no favorites, yet she was everyone’s favorite.

A memorial service will be held at Topeka First Methodist Church, 600 Topeka Blvd, Topeka,Kansas 66603 on March 21st, 2026 with a gathering of friends and family at 10 am and memorial service at 11am. In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to the ongoing mission of First Methodist Church.

The family would like to thank St. Croix Hospice of Topeka for their care and concern for Marian in the final weeks of her life, which helped give her the peaceful dignified passing she so richly deserved.

"Nothing Gold Can Stay"

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.