MARY JOAN MAACK

1930-2021

Mary Joan Maack peacefully passed away on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021. She was 90 years of age.

Mary was born in Bancroft, Iowa on August 10th, 1930 to Valeta Marie and Martin Griese. She spent her childhood in Burt, Iowa and graduated from Burt High School in 1947. She attended nursing school at Presentation School of Nursing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and received her nursing diploma in

1950 at the age of 20. After graduation, she took a job as an office nurse for the town doctor in Algona, Iowa.

In 1954, she joined the American Red Cross and moved to Houston with 2 friends to care for polio patients. She met her husband of 31 years, John Maack, in the choir at the Co-Cathedral of Sacred Heart church in downtown Houston. They were married on December 27th, 1956 in Iowa. She loved the Houston weather and the beach (Galveston), as she was not aware of either before leaving Iowa!

She retired from Hermann hospital in the Texas Medical Center as Director of Orthopedics after almost 40 years of service. She was a founding member of the Houston chapter of the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses.

She never forgot her Midwest upbringing and had very fond memories of her childhood and Iowa farms. She devoted her life to her family, friends, and patients. She was a caregiver to anyone who needed her help, well into her 80s. She was an excellent leader, role model, and mentor to so many. She was loved and respected by all that knew her.

Mary was a fiercely dedicated matriarch, instilling in all those around her the value that family came first and was above all else. She was predeceased by her parents, sister Lavonne Schaff, and husband John Maack. She is survived by her sister Harriet Shivers, her children Jo Ann Maack, John Maack, Monica Martin, Martin Maack, Mary Ann Herring, and James Maack, six grandchildren Emily, Kevin, Jackson, Jennifer, John, Kenny and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Earthman’s Funeral home in Bellaire on Tuesday, February 9th, from 6-8 PM, Rosary at 7 PM. Funeral Mass at St. Vincent de Paul chapel on Thursday, February 11th, at 10 AM followed by Graveside service at Forest Park Lawndale at 12 noon. Please plan to join us at a future date for a celebration of her life.