Mable Pekarek

Mable Pekarek of Columbus died Monday, March 11, 2024 at her home.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 am Monday, March 18 at St. Isidore Catholic Church.  There will be a CDA Rosary at 3:30 pm Sunday with visitation to follow from 4-6 pm with a 6:00 pm Vigil service to follow, all at St. Isidore Church.  Visitation continues on Monday from 9:30 am until service time at the Church.  Interment is in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.

In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials are encouraged to St. Isidore Church, Scotus Central Catholic, or to the Mable Pekarek Mathematics Development Award at Scotus.

Mable Irene Pekarek was born August 16, 1934 in Howells, NE to George, Sr and Mildred (Palik) Fiala.  She grew up in Howells and graduated from Howells High School in 1952.  She attended Creighton University and later received her Bachelors of Science in Education from Midland College.  Mable was united in marriage to John "Jack" Pekarek on August 25, 1956 in Howells.  Mable taught school in Omaha before coming to Columbus where she taught at St. Bonaventure, St. Anthony, St. Isidore, and for 38 years at Scotus Central Catholic Junior High retiring in 2004. She served as the Pep Club sponsor for many years. In 1996 and 2004 she was named the Archdiocese Teacher of the Year.  Throughout her career, her Math Counts teams won numerous competitions at the state and national level.  The Mable Pekarek Mathematics Development Award was established in 2022 with the first teacher receiving the award in 2023.

Mable loved playing bridge, reading, and playing penny and nickel slots highlighted by her yearly trip to Las Vegas with her mother.

Mable was a founding member of St. Isidore Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters of America, and Christian Women.

Mable is survived by:
Daughter Marsha Sterba of Omaha
Son Jeff (Ethel) Pekarek of Columbus
Daughter Laurie (Tom) Lange of Columbus
Daughter Sandy (Jay) Olson of Olathe, KS
11 Grandchildren
10 Great Grandchildren
Sister Mary (Joe) Molacek of Norfolk
Sister-in-law Irene Fiala of Dodge
Sister-in-law Jan (Bert) Mahalek of Seward
Many Nieces and Nephews

She is preceded in death by:
Husband John "Jack" in 1986
Parents
Son-in-law Tom Sterba
Brother George "Sarge" Fiala, Jr
Sister Ellen (Frank) Fowler
Father-in-law John (Emma) Pekarek
Sister-in-law Geraldine (Jim) Stewart