Mary Jo Mellick

Mary Jo Mellick

August 23, 1938 – December 13, 2023

Mary Jo Mellick, age 85, of Omaha, Nebraska passed away on December 13, 2023.

Mary Jo Hupp was born on the family farm North of Bloomfield, Nebraska on August 23, 1938 to William Sephes Hupp and Alice Mildred Josiassen Hupp. After Mary Jo graduated from Norfolk High School in 1955, she went on to attend Norfolk Junior College and graduated with a degree in Education and a Teacher’s Certificate.

In 1956, Mary Jo met Charles Franklin Mellick in Norfolk, Nebraska. Mary Jo and Chuck were married at the First Presbyterian Church in Norfolk on June 23^rd, 1957. The couple went on to have three children: Mark, David, and Amy Jo. Mary Jo and Chuck were members of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, where Mary Jo participated in Altar Guild, Circle, and Bible study.

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Mellick; brothers, Eugene Hupp and Duane Hupp; and sister, Janet Hupp Reeves.

She is survived by her children: Mark Mellick (Carol) of Omaha, David Mellick (Kathy) of Lincoln, and Amy Jo Barker (Jim Burg) of Bayfield, Wisconsin; grandchildren: Sarah Svacina (Jake), Allison Mellick, Storm Mellick, Rowan Mellick, Noah Barker (Katelyn), Zachary Barker, MaryBeth Barker, Mark Barker, Lily Barker, Jonah Barker, Austin Schoonover, and Blake and Molly Reppert; great-grandchildren: Vivian, Cecelia, and Leo Svacina, Kadalynn Barker, Noelle and Charlie Repper, as well as nieces, nephews,and dear friends.

During her life Mary Jo was a farm girl, a teenage waitress at Louie’s Tasty Treat in Norfolk, a teacher, a stay at home mom, a wife, an office manager at the Omaha Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, a doting Grandma, and a caregiver to her whole family. She was a patient listener, a wise advisor, and a best friend. Mary Jo was a woman who waved to you in the driveway as long as she could see you as you drove away, and one who would be waiting up for you to hear your story and to tuck you in when you returned. She was steadfast, sensible, tough. She was full of unconditional love and love for chocolate and cookies and a good book. She always said she preferred a good book to a bad conversation, any day.

Mary Jo loved to sew and make quilts. You could find her hand-quilting in her favorite chair by the fireplace on cold winter nights, in her flower garden on a warm spring day, or sitting in her backyard on a soft Nebraska summer’s evening.  She loved to bake, go antiquing, travel, drink hot tea, listen to country-western music, and sit cozily reading novels. Her time was filled with happy days with her husband Chuck, who was the love of her life, with her kids and her grandkids, with the laughter of friends.

Life is a series of wonders unique to each of us, and they say in the end we all become stories. Mary Jo is a story of grace and strength, wisdom and poise, unwavering love, wry humor, homemade fudge, and coffee cake. Her tiny kitchen always seemed to be stuffed full of family, food, and laughter. Hers, a true story of happiness. A story she has passed down to each of us who loved her—to open whenever we need her, still, and forever.  Near the end of his life, one of the last things my father said to me as he looked at my mom sitting across from us was, “Isn’t your mother beautiful?” Yes. Yes, she was.

VISITATION: Saturday, December 30^th at 9am at the West Center Chapel, followed by MEMORIAL SERVICE at 10am.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Nebraska Arthritis Foundation.  To view a live broadcast of the Memorial Service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.