Michael J. Mooney

Michael J. Mooney

August 15, 1936 – May 10, 2019

Michael Joseph Mooney passed away at home on Friday, May 10, 2019 at the age of 82.  Mike is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sue; his three children and their spouses, Mike (Samantha) Mooney, Bob (Sarah) Mooney, Greg (Theresa) Mooney, and his grandchildren, Erin, Kailin, Megan, Ryan, Sean, Ainsley, Finn and Piper. He is also survived by numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.  Mike was preceded in death by his son Christopher, and his mother Elizabeth, stepfather Robert Fuller, and father Joseph.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Thursday, May 16^th at 10:30am at Christ the King Catholic Church, 654 S. 86^th St. The family will receive friends on Wednesday May 15^th from 5pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel, followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Septembeard (a Prostate Cancer Foundation) or to Siena/Francis House.

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Mike was born in Omaha, Nebraska on August 15, 1936. He graduated from Omaha Cathedral High School, then pursued higher education at Creighton University earning a Bachelor of Science Degree, then his Juris Doctorate degree from the Creighton University School of Law, which he received in 1963.

Despite failing the course “Marriage and the Family” in school (this really happened) he gave marriage a try—for 57 terrific years.   And he raised three surprisingly successful boys, in spite of themselves.  They all agree that he was the best possible role model as a dad, one they attempt to emulate with their own children every day.

Mike practiced law with several Omaha law firms beginning in 1963 and continuing through his retirement in 2019—a total of 56 years.  During a storied legal career, he was invited to a fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers.  He was Chairman of the House of Delegates for the Nebraska State Bar Association and was a fellow in the Nebraska State Bar Foundation.  He served as President of the Nebraska Defense Counsel Association and was its first recipient of its Master Emeritus Award in May of 2011.   Mike also served as President of the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys.  He truly enjoyed the practice of law, was proud of his many successes in the courtroom, and valued the peers he shared in the practice of law.

As proud as he was of his career in the law, Mike found immense satisfaction in the legacy of his grandchildren, who brought him great joy and pride. His legacy includes college scholarship winners, valedictorians, sorority officers, student governors, a national competition cheerleader, a varsity soccer player, soccer captains, a national competition hockey team captain, musicians, dancers, and a future ninja.

Mike was an avid outdoorsman.  He enjoyed duck hunting, pheasant hunting and fishing.  He had a golf swing which was the envy of all who saw it.  He loved flying planes when he had his pilot’s license.  He loved cooking a meal for the family, and even created a cookbook – with mostly self-described “tolerable” recipes.  He loved his cabin at Woodcliff lake, and enjoyed his time pulling kids behind the boat, fishing, or merely relaxing on the porch yelling a greeting to a friend  – or someone he didn’t know.

He loved spending his free time with family and friends.  He found joy in watching his grandkids play sports, or try to entertain him with their latest knowledge.  Because it was the sport his boys could play in elementary school, he learned to coach soccer when the only thing America knew of soccer was that some guy named “Pele” played it.  He relished lunch with the geezers, and always brought back new, hilarious, and inappropriate stories.  And he never forgot any of them.

People genuinely enjoyed being with Mike and he will be dearly missed by everyone whose life he touched.  The list is long.