Mary Lou Green

Mary Lou Green of Columbus died Sunday, December 25, 2011 at Mory's Haven in Columbus.


Mary Lou was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska the child of Charles Terence and Emma (Kenney) McManus. She attended the College of St. Mary Creighton University and the University of Nebraska Lincoln where she received her Bachelors Degree in Education. In 1953 she began teaching at Margaret Mary grade school in Omaha, Ne. On June 28, 1958 she was united in marriage to Donald Bud L. Green. She moved to Columbus with her husband and began teaching at St. Bonaventure Grade School. From 1959 to 1963 she taught at St. Anthony grade school in Columbus. From 1964 to 2009 she taught at St. Isidore grade school in Columbus. She was one of the first teachers (and the only lay teacher) at St. Isidore.

Mary Lou was very active in having her students participating in National History Day and National Energy Educational Development (NEED). Mary Lou entered into their first History Day competition in 1981. Mary Lou's students won State competitions and qualified for Washington D.C. competitions for both History Day and Need consecutively from 1984 through 2009. For most of those years, St. Isidore either received an Excellent, Superior, and in many instances placed 10th or higher in the country.

Some of Mary Lou's awards and accomplishments include:
1987 One of 13 Nebraska Teachers honored as finalists in the Christa McAuliffe Prize Competition.
1987 Received the Outstanding Alumna Award from the College of St. Marys.
1991 Recognized as Teacher of the Year by the Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska.
1992 Honored with the Athena Award by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.
1992 Honored with the Nebraska Teacher of Merit award by the National History Day Organization.
2003 Awarded the National Distinguished Service Award by the National Energy Education Development (NEED) for its most dedicated teacher.
2011 James C. Olson Memorial Award

Mary Lou was a member of St. Isidore Catholic Church. She was active in Catholic Daughters and St. Isidore Christian Mothers. She was an avid bridge player and Nebraska football fan.

She is survived by:
Son Don (Val) Green of Nebraska City, Nebraska
Daughter Maralee (Steve) O'Neill of Norfolk, Nebraska
Son Terry (Mary Pat) Green of Victoria, Minnesota
Daughter Emily Green of Columbus, Nebraska
Grandchildren: Alyssa, Nicole, Ashley, Lindsay, and Makenzie (children of Don and Val); William, Matthew, Thomas, and Margaret (children of Terry and Mary Pat);
Brother Robert (Grace) McManus of Lincoln, Nebraska
Brother James (Sherry) McManus of Mesa, Arizona
Sister-in-law Donna Connelly of Spalding, Nebraska
Several Nieces and Nephews

She is preceded in death by:
Husband Donald Green in 1999
Parents Charles and Emma McManus
Niece Karen Meyer

Memorials are suggested to St. Isidore Church.