Jo Ann was born in Beatrice, Nebraska to Esther and Joseph Schiermeyer and grew up and attended schools in Blue Springs, Nebraska. She was the middle child of the five Schiermeyer children – Jean, Doris, James, and Barton Kay. The kids grew up in the depression and did not have a lot of “extras” in the household, but they had an extra abundance of love, laughs and caring for each other which extended into their adulthood. She also had a large extended family with wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins.
On April 3, 1944 she married her high-school sweetheart – Dennis (Keith) Maine after he returned from the South Pacific in WWII. After Dennis graduated from the University of Nebraska, they started their family and their children Denise, Bruce and Karis were born. The family moved from Nebraska to Englewood, Colorado in 1955 and Jo Ann became an active member in the church and schools in the community.
Her church activities ranged from being a Sunday school teacher to a member of the quilting group to the choir to various service and leadership roles through the years. She was a woman of faith who lived her faith every day and she continued to be active in the church until her health required her to slow down.
Her greatest priority, however, was her home and her family. She was a wonderful wife and mother who was also a lot of fun. Summer trips to Nebraska and Oregon to see family, weekend trips to the Colorado mountains, and always special outings to baseball games, picnics in the park, family reunions, game nights and special events. She was an old-fashioned baker who would have after-school snacks ready and she rolled out all of the stops at holidays! And, she must have inherited a sewing gene from her mother because she also could make anything from doll clothes to prom dresses.
Her grandchildren all remember the special attention and time she gave to them – babysitting when sick or well, playing games, taking walks, raking leaves, holidays, and reading, reading, reading. Her out of state grandchildren and great-grandchildren always received much long-distance love and knew how special they were to her. She was an accomplished writer who could bring an idea and a story to life.
After her children were grown she worked as a secretary for Cahners Publishing Company, Arapahoe County and Englewood Public Schools until her retirement.
After Dennis’ death in 1990, she moved to the Englewood Meridian and met Henry “Mack” McElyea whom she married and they spent several happy years together before his passing.
She continued her active and independent life with family and friends, at her church and at her retirement community for many years and was a great Colorado Rockies fan and an enthusiastic Scrabble player. She greatly enjoyed staying in touch with her brothers and sisters and all of her extended family members.
She is survived by two children – Denise Maine Hall (Ray), Bruce Maine (DeeAnna); five grandchildren – Adam, Amanda, Keith, Matthew and Jesse; two great-grandchildren – Jeremy and Madison. Her daughter, Karis, passed away in December 2019. She is also survived by her brother, Barton Kay Schiermeyer (Esther) of Orion, Illinois. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Dennis Keith Maine; her second husband, Henry McElyea; and siblings Jean Germer, Doris Jespersen and James Dee Schiermeyer.
Her life was joyful, filled with kindness and charity and she will be remembered fondly by family members and friends.
Memorial Service at First Presbyterian Church, Englewood, Colorado on Saturday, July 31 at 10:30 a.m. Memorials to First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund or to a charity of your choice.
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