Mary J. Poe

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Mary J. Poe, 66, of Lincoln, passed away on July 1, 2022. She was born on July 17, 1955, in Lincoln, NE, to Kenneth and Alice (Becker) Folkers.

As a child her family moved from the house her father built in Havelock to a farm near Garland and Branched Oak Lake where she soon spent many hours riding horses, working in the garden, canning what they grew, and processing their livestock. The lessons engrained from her childhood would be instilled in her own children and grandchildren as they grew up.

In 1973, after Mary graduated from Seward High School, she began her working career at Lincoln General Hospital as a Nurses Aid where she would later return to Bryan LGH and retire from the Environmental Services Department. In between, she worked at Brandeis Department Store and Hollywood Cleaners as a professional seamstress, at Carol Wright Gifts, and other smaller jobs like Home and Garden and Tastefully Simple.

Mary was a generous person who gave her talents and gifts in innumerable ways. She volunteered at the Willard Community Center and survived as Girl Scout Leader and Cookie Chair for many years. She loved being a Campground Host at Branched Oak Lake, volunteering with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, teaching Nebraska Boater Safety classes, and helping in many other ways throughout her life.

Mary loved to travel whether it was in a truck bed camper, a tent, a 5th wheel, or the back of a motorcycle. She was working on seeing as many National Parks as she could but the mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park were her favorite. She also enjoyed being out on the water boating and water skiing. Mary was an amazing seamstress and made clothes for herself and her family throughout the years and had recently gotten into making quilts for her family and friends. It could be said that she did not know a stranger. Mary enjoyed all of these, but most of all she loved her family.

Her family includes husband Robert “Bob” Poe of Lincoln; children Janice (Keith) Plautz-Bless, of State College, PA; Kelly Towle, of Lincoln; Travis (Joy) Plautz of Malcolm; their father Carl Plautz; stepchildren, Kyle Montgomery of Lincoln; Brittany Poe, of Lincoln; grandchildren Natalie, Drake, Emerson, and Brock; brother Wayne (Cheryl) Folkers; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, extended family members and friends. Preceded in death by her parents, brother Mark, infant sister Terri, and son in law Brian Towle.

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Services

July8

Celebration of Life

11:00 am CST

Lincoln Firefighters Hall

241 Victory Lane

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July 30, 2022

I met Mary in the late 70’s when she was pregnant with her son. At the time , Mary was working as a seamstress and at home she was sewing someone their wedding dress. Mary taught me so much more than I knew about sewing, gardening and canning. Mary ALWAYS had a smile when I saw her and she just swept you up with her love. I can say I’m a better person for knowing her and her family; all of them. I miss her, too. Come see me in my dreams so we can catch up. Bye for now, Mary

– Becky Keholm

July 8, 2022

Bob and family, Our deepest sympathy on the loss of your dear sweet Mary. She was one of the warmest, most caring people I ever had the pleasure of meeting and I pray that God is wrapping you in his love at this sad time, Sincerely, Gary and Linda Leyden

– Linda Leyden

July 8, 2022

I’m still in shock…. God has a plan for all of us, we don’t always know what or why that plan is the way it is but there is a reason. I’m being selfish for wanting her to stay here with us here on earth but she was needed more somewhere else. I’m sure all those ladies up there are going to be learning how to quilt or sew. Mary gave everything to be the BEST wife, mother, friend and Co-worker anyone could have EVER asked for. I met Mary back in the 1990’s when my husband and her husband Bob worked for LFR. Mary and Bob and my husband and I would go camping and play cards and boy they lived to camp. They were pretty good at playing cards too!! Mary, you are a gift from god put on this earth for too short of a time. I will miss our 1+ hour phones calls talking about family and friends. You were truly one of the best friends any one could ask for. I love you and will miss you like crazy. Keep making quilts up in heaven for all those that need one and I will try and finish the one you helped me get started soon. Miss you like crazy.

– Vickie Clark

July 7, 2022

I first met Mary at our great uncles 100th birthday in Estes Park. He was our grandmothers youngest brother. Her grandmother Margaret and my grandma Marie were twin sisters. It was there I learned we both lived in Lincoln. I became Facebook friends with her & this past spring had a really nice FaceTime visit with Mary. She was so easy to talk to. Reminded me of her grandma. We soon realized that we didn’t live that far from each other. We were planning on meeting for coffee when things slowed down a bit. Going to catch up on family and just spend time getting more acquainted. She was a very nice lady, and I quickly learned she had a zest for life. Needless to say I was totally shocked to hear the news. Sorry we won’t get that chance to visit and reminisce about family and the good ole days. My deepest sympathy and prayers to the family. Cherish the memories

– Brenda Dunn Smidt

July 6, 2022

I met Mary in 2004 . She was a co-worker and excellent trainer for new employees. She was welcoming, professional. I have fond memories of her. She loved her family so much. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. She will be truly missed .

– Debra Johnson

July 6, 2022

Such sad news, my condolences to Bob and the entire family. I met Bob just a few years ago when I got a tour of the LFR shop, nicest guy in the world! Once again my deepest sympathy to him and his family.

– Jim Goodrich

July 6, 2022

Mary was more then just a friend to all of us…. Whether it be a second mother, a best friend, a sister…. She brought not just joy to a room but, she would always have everyone sitting around with starry eyes because of the stories she had to share. To me Mary was more then a friend of my mother, Debbie Dahnke, she was a second mother to me and I always knew I could count on her and her husband Bob when I needed them and I feel so blessed to have them in my life. Mary gave me a love for adventure, travel, and camping. I remember the days at the campground waking up and Mary always wanted us to come over to their camper for breakfast and I could never refuse her cooking was so good! I remember the nights at the one campground where they held the Halloween competitions, everyone said it was mostly Bob’s thing but, we all knew Mary enjoyed it as much as Bob did and that she loved seeing Bob having fun with all the stuff he created. I remember the night over at their house and as many know it wasn’t just “their house” because she always made you feel welcomed. I remember when the motorcycle accident happened and she set up a huge auction to help pay for Dave Langston’s medical bills…. I remember how emotional she was when he walked in and of course the Lincoln Star captured the emotion very well. Which is one of the very few photos I have if her and I but I will always cherish it. She always wore a smile and that smile was contagious. My most favorite memories were also from the times we went out on the pontoon and they helped me learn how to operate a boat and taught me about the Coast Guard and what we should do for certain situations. Another of my favorites was when we took one of her grandbabies to the zoo and my mother was on her scooter and the little lady was causing so much trouble trying to climb on the cooler and ended up knocking the cooler in the little pond in the Desert Dome. Mary and I had to fish the cooler out and it was quite the scene…. Of course there is many more but, I can barely hold back the tears, Mary Poe will always be held in my heart and I will cherish everything. One thing I would like to say on Mary’s behalf…. Life is too short… don’t wait. You don’t know what day will be your last so go on that drive, go on that walk…. Do that one thing you’ve always wanted. Don’t miss out on an adventure because of misfortunes…. Go learn how to ride a motorcycle, go out with your friends before you don’t have the chance to. Also hold your family and friends close…. Don’t let life get in the way of you spending time with them. Spend all the time you can with the people you hold dear because just like you don’t when your last days are you don’t know when theirs are either… Take every chance you get to a person how much you appreciate them and how much you love them. It’s better to say it when they are alive then when it’s too late. Never forget to say you love someone before you hang up the phone….. life is to short and the end can come suddenly and you never know that date….. take advantage of the time you have with yourself and your love ones.

– Letty Teater

July 6, 2022

I’m so sorry for the unexpected loss of this sweet, outgoing, energetic and adventurous lady, mom, cool mother in law, wife, grandma, Branched Oak camper and host, and all other connections Mary had to those who love her. It’s such a shock to everyone which seems to make it harder to accept. I’m glad I got to meet her in her home when she hosted the Lincoln reception for Janice and Keith’s wedding. That’s also when I first met other family members such as Kelly and Emerson. Love each other real hard and keep Mary’s spirit, memory and kindness to others alive through your lives and actions. Speak of her often with each other.