Michael William Maher (2021)

BRAZZLE, GRIESGRABER, JONES, KINGSTROM, MAHER, MELCHER, RAHMAN, STAHL, VOLCKO, WHITE

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:02:56

Macken Funeral Home
Rochester, Minnesota

Michael William Maher of Rochester, Minnesota, aged 79, passed away peacefully in the early morning of October 3, 2021 at The Waters in Rochester, Minnesota. Mike lived with Parkinson’s Disease for 11 years. His passing was complicated by COVID-19.

Mike was born the son of James Patrick and Helen (Brazzle) Maher on March 31, 1942 in Des Moines, Iowa. He was the beloved husband of Bonnie Jean (Jones) Maher. They were married at St. John’s Catholic Church on the campus of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska as their graduation date approached. Married for 57 years, they lovingly raised three children: Tim Maher, Naples, Florida; Christine (Eric) Stahl, Rochester, Minnesota; and Tom (Cindy) Maher, Omaha, Nebraska.
Mike grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from Sacred Heart School and Dowling Catholic High School, class of 1960. While growing up, Mike loved baseball. His West Des Moines Little League team advanced to the Little League World Baseball Series in Ann Arbor, Michigan and made a grand arrival home aboard a train at the Valley Junction Train Depot. He also held his education at DCHS in high regard: the priests who influenced his life, teachers, and high school buddies.

After college graduation Mike made his career first with Hallmark Cards in regional sales, and spent many wonderful years with Morgan Stanley as a financial advisor. During these years he gave his all to his church, coaching his children’s and grandchildren’s sports activities, Rochester Catholic School System, and serving as treasurer of the St. Vincent DePaul Society at Church of the Resurrection.

He also annually hosted a Labor Day golf tournament with friends. Mike was an avid golfer participating in the Southeast Minnesota Senior Golf League, and the Lourdes High School Eagle Open.

His children and grandchildren are blest with a legacy of knowing that while a career is important and can yield great satisfaction, it is equally important to live life to the full in religious, personal, and leisure pursuits. Mike’s legendary wit was ever at the ready and added a layer of fun to conversation. His grandchildren especially appreciate that their grandfather consistently displayed a wonderful sense of balance between work and family. He loved his family unconditionally. He was a genuinely happy individual, and he believed in not having a tan line from your socks! Most importantly, he believed that faith and family come first, and to cherish good friends. His children say that their dad, “The Shamrock,” modeled generosity in his time with them and others, and believed in never going to bed angry.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Helen Maher, and daughter-in-law, Sue Rahman Maher.

In addition to his wife Bonnie, children Timothy, Christine (Eric), and Thomas (Cindy), Mike’s survivors include his loving grandchildren: Heather (John) Griesgraber, El Paso, Texas; Andrea (Shane) White, Beaverton, Oregon; James (Melissa) Maher, Naples, Florida; Kelsie (Michael) Kingstrom, Olivia, Minnesota; Alissa Stahl, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Michael Maher, Omaha, Nebraska. Great-grandchildren include: Giselle, Gianna, and Gemma Griesgraber, Adelynne and Bandon White; and Logan Maher. His adoring sisters are Julie Melcher, West Des Moines, Iowa; and, Kathy Volcko, Marcellus, New York.

A celebration of life and funeral Mass will be scheduled at a later date, as well as a private family burial at St. Patrick Irish Settlement Cemetery near Cumming, Iowa.

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