Margaret Mary “Peaches” Johannes, 95, of Gladstone, MO, passed away peacefully at home on March 23, 2020, surrounded by her loving children. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Kansas City, North. She will be laid to rest at a private burial in Resurrection North Cemetery.
Margaret Mary was born August 30, 1924, in Good Intent, KS, to William Henry and Catherine Duncan Wolters. She was named after her grandmothers Margaret Clark Duncan and Mary Becker Wolters. She grew up in Atchison, the oldest of ten children. She attended high school and college at Mount Saint Scholastica, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1945 with a degree in Chemistry.
After graduating, Margaret Mary was employed by St. Benedict’s College and ran the Catholic Youth Organization Center for seven years. While working at the CYO, she met her future spouse, Joseph “Joe” E. Johannes.
Margaret Mary and Joe were married in 1952 at St. Benedict’s Church, Atchison, KS. In the early years of marriage, they lived in Salina, KS, Hays, KS, and Independence, KS, before finally settling in the Kansas City, North area. They raised nine children and were married for 61 years, until Joe’s passing in 2013. They were charter members of St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, where Margaret Mary was active in the Altar Society.
Margaret Mary was a full-time, stay-at-home mother for many years. Her greatest joy was caring for her family. She was an exceptional woman and mother, nurturing her children, and later her grandchildren, with her strong faith, wise guidance, and unconditional love.
When her youngest started middle-school, she went to work at Eastgate Middle School as an Instructional Assistant for 13 years. After retiring in 1991, she and Joe enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren, attending countless birthday celebrations, school activities and graduations, and weddings. They also enjoyed visiting their children who lived outside of the KC area, traveling around the US, including multiple visits to Hawaii and several trips to Europe. Margaret Mary was an avid sports fan, and rarely missed watching her beloved home teams, the Royals and the Chiefs.
Margaret Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one daughter, Mary Theresa Moore; four brothers, William Wolters, Jr., John Wolters, Philip Wolters, and Thomas Wolters and two brothers-in-law, Donald Johannes and James Greene.
Survivors include eight children: Julia (Lawrence) Arthur, Sara (Scott) Brown, Barbara Nemechek, Joseph, Jr. (Cynthia), Martha Catherine Johannes, John Christopher (Gayle), Margaret (Sam) Cangelosi, and Philip (Laura) Johannes; and a son-in-law, Edmund Moore. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren: Kristin (Chuck) Searle, Jennifer Arthur, Lauren Arthur (Russell Shankland), Amy Brown (Daniel Biegelson), Gregory Moore, Rachel Moore, Megan Nemechek, Joseph Johannes, Laura Johannes, Kathryn Johannes, Rebecca Johannes, Sarah Harvey, Elizabeth Harvey, Danielle Johannes, Jaclyn Johannes, Madeline Johannes, Ryan Cangelosi, Casey (Renee) Cangelosi, Jackson Johannes, and Emma Johannes; and six great-grandchildren: Amelia Searle, Julia Searle, Jack Biegelson, June Biegelson, Tristan Moore, and Leonides Cangelosi. Survivors also include four sisters and two brothers-in-law: Geraldine Greene, Catherine (Jim) Lahey, Theresa (Ray) Miller, and Sr. Dorothy Wolters, OSB; one brother and a sister-in-law: Michael (Connie) Wolters, and five more sisters-in-law: Edna Mae Wolters, Terry Wolters, Roberta Wolters, Earlene Wilson, and Sarah Kathleen Johannes, as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to those who so lovingly cared for Margaret Mary. Her primary caregiver was her daughter, Margie, who devoted herself to providing exceptional spiritual, emotional, and medical support for the past five years. Special thanks to Right at Home and Creative Care, especially long-term caregivers Gayla Burton and Sue Weland. Their support allowed Margaret Mary to remain in her home through the final days of her life.
Margaret Mary leaves a beautiful legacy of a large, loving family who deeply cherish her. She will live on in the hearts and minds of all of her loved ones.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Theresa (Johannes) Moore Scholarship Fund in care of the North Kansas City Education Foundation, 2000 NE 46th St., Kansas City, MO 64116 or St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, 4747 N Cleveland Ave., Kansas City, MO 64117.
