Mary Charles Stensrud: Devoted Wife, Loving Mother, Wonderful Grandmother and Great Grandmother.
Mary Charles Stensrud, age 90, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was a resident of Colorado Springs for close to 50 years and before that, throughout the world, as a military wife and mother.
Mary Charles was born on February 22, 1932, to Travis Shipp and Pernia (Ellis) Shipp in Hayden, Alabama. She spent her childhood moving to multiple locations in the southeast United States with her parents and siblings: Elizabeth Ann (Shipp) Prince, Travis Shipp, Jr., and Billy Joe Shipp. Mary graduated from West End High School in Alabama in 1949, and then her family was transferred to Burtonwood Air Force Base in England, where she met her future husband, Donald L. Stensrud. They were married on November 23, 1951, in Birmingham, Alabama.
Mary Charles was fond of many things: antiquing, sewing, crossword puzzles, reading, traveling, and cooking. Her greatest joys came from spending time with friends (many friendships that were made throughout the time she was a military wife around the world) but most of all with her extended family and her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.
She was a member of Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs and active in the Prime Timers and Naomi Women’s Ministry.
Mary is survived by her children: Susan Kay (Stensrud) Obenauf and Donald L. Stensrud, Jr., and son-in-law Dennis Obenauf. Her siblings: Elizabeth Ann (Shipp) Prince and Travis Shipp, Jr.; grandchildren: Julianna (Obenauf) Johnson, Jeremy Johnson, Travis Obenauf, Ariel (Lawrence) Obenauf, Maddie Stensrud, Kitt Taylor-Stensrud, and Will Stensrud; and great grandchildren: Elliot Taylor-Stensrud, Matthew Johnson and Henry Obenauf. Mary is also survived by numerous sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Donald L. Stensrud, her father Travis Shipp and mother Pernia (Ellis) Shipp and her youngest brother, Billy Joe Shipp.
A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 pm on April 29, 2023, at Village Seven Presbyterian Church, 4040 Nonchalant Cir., Colorado Springs, CO 80917. Mary will be laid to rest next to her husband at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. A reception will be held following the celebration of life at Village Seven Presbyterian Church.
Memorials in Mary Charles Stensrud’s name may be made to Pikes Peak Hospice (pikespeakhospice.org) or the Colorado Springs Rescue Mission (www.springsrescue.org).