Maribeth Grace Augustyn

Monday, May 23, 2016

Maribeth Grace Augustyn

Dec. 2, 1928 - May 21, 2016

McCOOK, Neb. -- Maribeth Grace Augustyn, age 87, of McCook, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, May 21, 2016, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb.

Maribeth was born Dec. 2, 1928. She was the daughter of Leonard Wallace and Mary Jeannette (Baldwin) Grace in Denver, Colo.

She attended Manuel High School where she was concertmaster of the orchestra and played a solo for her graduation. She earned a scholarship to Colorado State College of Education, (now called University of Northern Colorado) where she began as a music major. She switched after two years to English, as it took too many hours a day and she needed to earn her way.

Maribeth met Joseph John Augustyn in Greeley, Colo. and they were married just before their senior year on Sept. 19, 1949, at St. Philomena Church in Denver. After graduating, they moved to Goodland, Kan., where Joe began his coaching and teaching career.

To this union six children were born with Maribeth being able to stay home and raise them. She was a Girl Scout leader and a Boy Scout den mother. After living in Colby, Kan., and Red Cloud and Gothenburg, Neb., the family settled in McCook, where all the children graduated and Maribeth held a job teaching English at the junior high school for 20 years. She played the violin in the orchestra for many musicals in McCook, Imperial and Colby, Kan.

After she retired in 1988, Maribeth began teaching violin students, which she continued until her death. She organized many successful violin recitals for her students. Maribeth was very devoted to Saint Patrick's Catholic Church, where she was an Altar Society member and member of St. Patrick's Choir. She spent many years helping out at Hillcrest as a volunteer at weekly Mass. She delivered church bulletins to the Catholic residents at Hillcrest Nursing Home on Sunday mornings. Maribeth hosted a Catholic Bible study for her dear friends every Tuesday morning. She volunteered at the Catholic Ladies Bargain Bazaar and she served as president of the Legion of Mary until her death. She was very active at the Heritage Senior Center and worked at the front desk every Friday morning. She was a member of Southwest Nebraska Genealogy Association. She was a volunteer proofreader for the Bison Alumni Newsletter.

She traveled to Europe twice with her sister-in-law, Sister Leona Augustyn, to visit her son, Mike. Maribeth was always unfailingly cheerful and kind. She enjoyed being with her many friends.

Preceding her in death were her mother and father; her husband, Joe; her godchild, Patrick Moriarity; and her brother, Jim Grace.

Those surviving are her children, Kathleen and husband, Chris Robles of Kearney, Neb., Mike and wife, Laura Campbell of Bel Air, Md., Charlie Augustyn of Lincoln, Neb., Peg and husband, Randy Andrews of McCook, Susan Augustyn and finance, Ray Dwyer of Sandpoint, Idaho, and Carol and husband, Bill Reed of Highland Village, Texas; grandchildren, Maria (Justin) Hendrickson, Tony (Amy) Chambers, Dan (Lindsay) Augustyn, Kimberly (Ron) Wheeler, Renee (Jesee) Cushman, Joe (Sarah) Augustyn, Becky (William) Clingman, Michael (Christine) Carter, Vincent Reed, Douglas (Amy) Augustyn, Andrew Augustyn and Jennifer Reed; 18 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Marilyn (Huff) Augustyn of Lincoln; sister, Ruth (Bill) Moriarity of Loveland, Colo.; half sister, Virginia Barrett of Richmond, Va.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Maribeth will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be on Thursday, May 26, 2016, from 2 to 7 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook.

A Rosary will be recited following the visitation, beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2016, at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, May 27, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook with Father Gary Brethour as Celebrant. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery also located in McCook.

Memorial contributions are suggested in Maribeth's name.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit our website at www.carpenterbreland.com to sign our online guestbook for the Augustyn family.