Feb. 16, 1951 ~ Nov. 21, 2023
Connie was born on Feb. 16, 1951, to Kenneth and Betty Tegrotenhuis in Delta, Colorado. She was the third of four children. Connie grew up working on the family farm and orchards, showing 4-H pigs, and she was also a cheerleader for the Hotchkiss Bulldogs. She graduated in 1969 and attended cosmetology school in Lamar, Colorado.
In 1970, Connie married Alan Shuss of Crawford, and they had two children: Christy and Jeannie. They lived in Hotchkiss on the Columbine Ranch in the winter and spent the summer on Electric Mountain between Paonia and Collbran. Connie and Alan raised their two girls teaching them how to work hard and play hard. In 1979, Connie and Alan moved to Kersey, Colorado, where Alan had taken a job at the Monfort Feedlot. Through the years, Connie worked at Platte Valley High School as a cook, worked at Professional Veterinary Clinic, and at Monfort Feedlot. Connie even roped a time or two. She would only rope three times though. She always claimed that if she roped more than that she would miss. Connie spent many hours in the brown Ford van with her best friend Kaye, traveling to watch Alan and the girls rope.
Christy and Jeannie were the center of her world. She never missed any of the girls’ sporting events. She spent many hours in bleachers and sitting outside at high school rodeos. Life brought her back to her hometown, Hotchkiss, Colorado, where she would work at the Delta Clerk and Recorder’s office until she retired.
Family was always the most important thing to Connie, and one of the greatest lessons she shared with her daughters. Connie loved watching her grandchildren play any sport. She always made time to be at all the games she could. This even meant driving clear to Meeker and Walden, Colorado, to cheer on her favorite players. Like all other grandparents, her grandchildren were always the best on the court, the field, or even in the show ring. She had no problems telling anyone that her grandkids were the best.
In 2018, retirement brought her to Meeker so she could be closer to her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids. We all know they were the loves of her life.
Connie is preceded in death by her parents Ken and Betty TeGrotenhuis, and her son-in-law Rowdy Atwood. She leaves behind the core of her family: daughters Christy Atwood and Jeannie Jenkins (Allen); her siblings, Cynda Clay (Harold), Cara Wagner (Jake), and Bryan TeGrotenhius (Sharon); her grandkids Bailey Waldref (Jarett), Kash Atwood, Kyan Russell (Bryce), Kayla Brown (JT); and her great-grandchildren Koy Waldref, Tate Waldref, Clancy Russell, Macey Brown and Jordyn Brown. Connie also had many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
