Maurice Nile Maher

Maurie Nile Maher, 81, of Omaha, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2023. He was born on September 17, 1942, in Hamburg, Iowa.  Maurie attended Dowling High School in Des Moines, Iowa, then moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he attended Marquette University and met the love of his life, Barbara. 

Maurie and Barb began dating in 1961 and finished the school year with a plan to marry.  On September 21, 1963, Maurie and Barb were married in Ames, Iowa.  With Barb at his side, Maurie earned his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Iowa State University.  In the early years of their marriage, they lived in Ames and Chicago, then bought their first home in Omaha where they began their family.  They have five children – Maurie Jr., Sean, Shannon, Molly, and Meaghan.  Maurie and Barb celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past September.

Maurie had many passions and hobbies over the years.  His love of softball was at the forefront for many decades.  Maurie’s passion for golf grew over the years.  He looked forward to playing rounds with his core group of friends, with whom he had standing golf dates each week. He had a wide circle of friends at the Champions Club, as his outgoing and gregarious personality fit well with any foursome.  Maurie attended Husker football games faithfully (as well as the tailgates that ensued), annual Rodeos in Sidney, Iowa with his cousins, aunts, uncles, and especially his brother, Tim, and long summers entertaining his family and friends at their pool. His faith and Irish heritage were evident.  Many in Omaha looked forward to the St. Patrick’s Day parties Maurie and Barb hosted with piano players, bagpipes, singing and dancing, and of course Barb’s Irish stew & cucumber sandwiches. His love for his beautiful Greek bride was always his number one.  Their love was truly unique; it was the greatest gift he bestowed upon his children.  Maurie was so proud of his family.  He loved to entertain his children and grandchildren at family parties, dancing & singing to music in their kitchen.  He had an innate ability to connect with anyone and everyone, always enjoying life, always a smile on his face, and always the life of the party.  His time ended too soon, but it was a full life.  

Maurie was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in the fall of 2020.  He battled fiercely for over three years, always keeping a positive attitude and never complaining as he was dealing with this illness.  He remained active playing golf through October, and even dancing this past Thanksgiving with his granddaughters.

Maurie is survived by his wife, Barbara, and children: Maurie (Jennifer) Maher, Elkhorn, NE, Sean (Jacque) Maher, Overland Park, KS, Shannon (Rocky) Denney, Shawnee, KS, Molly (Tim) Hoffman, Omaha, NE, Meaghan Maher, Brooklyn, NY; brother, Tim (Cindy) Maher of Chetek, WI.  He has ten grandchildren: Emma, Brock, Timmy, Cael, Olivia, Haley, Reese, Charley, Ryder & Maddox.  He was preceded in death by his parents Maurice and Pauline, and his sister, Terri. Maurie’s family, friends, and faith meant the world to him, and he made the most of every moment with each of them.

We grieve because we love. How lucky we are to have experienced that love.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society & Msgr. Eugene H. Kerwin Endowment Fund c/o St. Robert Bellarmine Church