Maria Louisa Fruge passed away on May 3, 2026. She was a resident of Colorado Springs for 30 years and grew up in Boone and Pueblo, Colorado. She previously lived in Kelseyville, California and Lakewood, Colorado. She was a retired Operating Room Registered Nurse.
Maria was born on November 14, 1955, to Charles and Mary Herman (Langer) in La Junta, Colorado. On March 24, 2001, she married Larry Fruge in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Maria loved bicycling and enjoyed many wonderful bike trips with Larry and friends. She also enjoyed scrapbooking and playing pickleball. Her biggest joy was tending to and enjoying her beautiful roses and flowers. She attended Pueblo County High School and graduated in 1974. She then received her nursing degree from the University of Southern Colorado in 1977.
She is survived by her loving husband Larry, her stepchildren Nicholas Fruge and Amanda Pearson, her brother David Herman and wife Marrion, and grandsons Jonathan, Alexander, and Mathias. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Emma as well as three nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Charles and mother Mary, and her brother Charles.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on June 20th at Shrine of Remembrance, 1730 East Fountain Boulevard. A reception/celebration of life will follow at 11:30 at Olympian Plaza Reception and Event Center, 975 South Union Blvd.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Maria’s name may be made to Gynecologic Cancer Connection at gynocancerconnection.org.
María put up a courageous fight against her cancer and made the most of her life after her diagnosis. She was so loved and will be missed by all that knew her. It is requested that for her celebration of life you wear bright colors or something bicycle or pickleball themed.
Beautiful obituary for a beautiful woman inside and out. I will miss you Maria!
Maria, your gentle soul is missed!
So many memories of Maria biking, scrapbooking, weekends in Mueller State Park, Croatia cycling trip, South Dakota Mickelson cycling Treks. And so many more. You were so strong and positive thru all your fights with Cancer. I will miss you and hope you can rest in peace and know i will miss you so!
All the memories just flood back each time I think of Maria from the times we spent together with you and Larry enjoying life. The trips from biking, parks, and when you guys came to Tomball Texas. Playing cards, Catan, and just sitting and talking. We love and miss you every day.
Maria may you rest in peace. I enjoyed exchanging conversations with you, we always found something to laugh about at the end of the day. You were such a beautiful person.
What a courageous battle she fought. I called her the Energizer Bunny. She was a great nurse, coworker and friend. I will miss our girl time get togethers. She’s on to the next journey, fly high my friend.
Maria, I’ll always remember your smile and optimism. You lived your life to the fullest! It was always fun working with you and our “girl’s lunches” too. I will miss you, Maria
Maria, you will always hold a special place in my heart. A great wife, mother, grandmother, outdoorswoman and especially a great nurse. We worked together for so long, in so many places. I was always happy to see your beaming smile. Even when you were so horribly sick, you always had that smile. I can only hope that if I am ever so ill that I can think of you and find the strength to do the same and spread that kind of joy. Always, with much, much love, Carol💐
We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend, Maria. We will always cherish the wonderful memories of our many bike trips together, and the unforgettable times spent hiking, snowshoeing, and playing games at Mueller State Park. Larry, our hearts are with you during this incredibly difficult time. Maria brought so much joy to our lives, and we will miss her terribly.