Mary Pat Mockler
May 24, 1934-May 19, 2025
Mary Patricia Mockler, a longtime resident of Omaha, died May 19, 2025 in Boulder, Colorado. She was 90.
Mary Pat was born May 24, 1934, to Leo and Marjorie Keenan in Torrington, Wyoming. She lived there until third grade, when her father served as a Navy ship doctor in the South Pacific, and the rest of her family relocated to the West Coast for the duration of World War II. In 1945, the family returned to their home in Torrington, where Mary Pat eventually became editor of her high school newspaper, prom queen, and valedictorian.
She attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she majored in chemistry, graduated in three years, and still managed to become Phi Beta Kappa.
After college, Mary Pat moved to Omaha and in 1956 began medical technology training at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She graduated, but instead of working in its clinical lab, accepted a job in the research lab at Omaha’s Veterans Administration Building, where she worked until 1960. During this time, she also met Robert Mockler. They were married in January 1959 and soon began a family: Rick was born in 1960, Tom in 1961, Tish in 1963, Karen in 1965, and Jim in 1973. The family belonged to St. Margaret Mary Parish and the children attended St. Margaret Mary School.
Each summer for decades, the family would travel to Colorado to spend time in the Rocky Mountains. Mary Pat loved escaping the humid Omaha summers for the dry air of her childhood. And even late in life, she always preferred hiking down to hiking up.
As kids began heading off to college, Mary Pat did too, attending refresher classes at UNO in preparation for a return to work. She said biochemistry was the hardest course she ever took, but true to form, she got at A. In 1982, she began work as a med tech at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Although she left the house before dawn each morning for her six a.m. shift, she still remained deeply involved in St. Margaret Mary Parish, where she served as an EME (Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist) and volunteered on multiple committees. Many a night her family would find her in the basement, ironing stoles for the priests to wear on Sunday. She was also an active member of the League of Women Voters, a long-time participant in “Great Decisions” (a discussion program on world affairs), and both a volunteer and board member for Emergency Pregnancy Services.
Mary Pat retired from UNMC in 1996. A devout Catholic, she had long taken Perpetual Adoration shifts at St. Margaret Mary, and attended occasional religious lectures and retreats. She now attended daily Mass as well. She loved to travel, and she was able to persuade her more reluctant husband to visit several continents. They did a whirlwind European tour with several of their children. They also visited their children (and, as they began to arrive, grandchildren) throughout the United States. Because she loved to learn, much of their domestic travel was through the Elder Hostel program (later Road Scholar).
In 2005, they sold their house on 75th Street and moved to a retirement community, The Arboretum on Farnam Drive. There, she continued to volunteer, picking up residents’ weekly recycling and helping organize weekly Mass. In 2018, they left Omaha to move to Colorado’s Front Range. Bob died in 2021, and she spent her final years in memory care, where once again she threw herself into all available activities and often played the piano for her fellow residents.
Mary Pat loved classical music. For decades, she and Bob had season tickets to the Omaha Symphony. She also loved anything sweet—especially a margarita—and she was sweet, remaining upbeat, kind and resilient through her final years. Her caretakers would often confess that she was one of their favorite residents.
She died on May 19, 2025, five days before turning 91. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Marjorie Keenan; husband, Robert. She is survived by her five children and their spouses: Richard (Chris), Thomas (Susan), Patricia Fobben (James), Karen (Michael Stark), and James (Stephanie); eight grandchildren: Brenna, Neil, Alana, Anastasia, Michael, Bridget, Marie, and Jonathan; brother Richard; numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the kind, attentive staff of Sunrise of Boulder and Choice Hospice, for their compassionate care of our beloved mother and grandmother.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Catholic Relief Services or the Stephen Center.
VISITATION: Wednesday, July 2, 2025, from 5:00-7:00PM, with VIGIL SERVICE: at 7:00PM, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road.
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 10:30AM, St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 6116 Dodge Street, Omaha, 68132
Interment, Calvary Cemetery
Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com
4 Comments
Mary Pat and my wife, Betty, were sorority sisters in Alpha Pi and were good friends. My wife died in May 2022. She was always thinking about Mary Pat. We lived at Pacific Springs until she died. I now live at the Pacific Springs Assisted Living. .
Allen Barnard
My sincere sympathy to the entire Mockler family and extended family members. Mary Pat sounds like a remarkable caring person who left this world a much better place.
My sincerest condolences to the Mockler family. Mrs. Mockler made everyone feel welcome in their home. Wishing you all peace.
A wonderful woman, whose loving attitude and caring spirit clearly shone through, and who gave back to her community. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. My condolences to the Mockler family.
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