Obituary for John Christian Mau
John Christian Mau, loving husband and father, died of natural causes in Ann Arbor, Michigan on July 15, 2020. Throughout his nearly 91 years, John was ever curious about science and technology and passed down this curiosity to his children.
John was born on July 30, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan to Fred and Josephine (Lutz) Mau. Growing up mostly on farmland outside of St. Clair, he had a lively childhood swimming, sledding, ice skating, pheasant hunting, fishing and farming. He had an aptitude for math and science and learned construction skills and carpentry from his father, who had a construction business with his brother until the depression. John graduated valedictorian and class president from St. Clair High School in 1947, but turned down a college scholarship to work at Chris-Craft Boat Works in Algonac along with his father. After a year of working and saving money, and a year attending Port Huron Junior College, he enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1949. There he met the love of his life, Norma Jean Diamond, a Nursing major from Alpena, whom he met at the Lutheran Student Center. His life would never be the same.
John was drafted into the Marine Corps in 1951 and received his basic Marine Corps training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During the Korean Conflict, he was stationed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego where he attended radio school, learning to install and operate temporary radio transmission sites. His radio training eventually led to his long and varied career at General Telephone and Electric (GTE). He spent 2 years in active duty and later spent two years in the reserves.
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1953, John re-enrolled at the University of Michigan on the GI Bill and was reunited with Norma who was working at UM Hospital. John and Norma were married on September 4, 1954 in Alpena and honeymooned at Niagara Falls and New York City. After graduating in December 1955 with a Masters in Electrical Engineering, John moved his young family of three to Muskegon, Michigan where he went to work for GTE, specializing in the installation of microwave transmission towers. While in Muskegon, the family grew to a total of six. In January 1963, the family “transferred” to Elmhurst Illinois where John took a special research assignment with GTE’s Automatic Electric Lab. In 1965, he became the head of GTE’s expanding Office Phone Systems department in Tampa, Florida and “transferred” his family to Clearwater, Florida. He eventually became head of the 600-person Installation & Repair division, whose territory served the entire west coast of Florida. John was admired by his employees as well as their spouses, one of whom said she wished that her husband would talk about her with the same admiration as he did about John.
A natural born teacher, John was a Scoutmaster while in Elmhurst and in Clearwater, and taught Sunday School at St. Paul Lutheran Church. He also taught technical courses to GTE employees from offices around the country. An avid sailor, John was an active member of the Optimists Club, where he taught eager young sailors how to sail small sailboats. He enjoyed taking his children out on his 11-foot Sparkler and teaching them the finer points of sailing in the Intercostal Waterway. He sailed competitively against other Sparkler owners as well as crewed on larger sailboats that competed in the Gulf of Mexico.
John spent many hours tinkering in his garage, mostly working on his beloved 1965 Ford station wagon and 1966 VW beetle. Many memorable family trips were taken in the Ford, including, Key West, Everglades, and historical sites in the DC area. Family vacations were almost always spent in Alpena visiting Norma’s parents on their Michigan Centennial Farm helping to bale hay, tend cattle, pick stones, repair farm equipment, and attend family gatherings. The final trip with the entire family in 1975 included pulling a small “Scotty” camper trailer to visit Oak Creek, Grand and Bryce Canyons and National Parks including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Mount Rushmore. John and Norma also went on fun weekend trips with other “adult” members of St. Paul’s, many of whom became lifelong friends.
John was transferred once again in 1981 to Lexington, Kentucky to head GTE’s cell phone research group when the technology was in its infancy. He and Norma settled on 3.5 acres of land in horse country with a barn for a garage. He enjoyed tinkering in the garage, riding his mower, and tending the large garden. John and Norma hosted many a Derby party in their home, where with his love of numbers, John took the bets and doled out the winnings. He also served two years as the Financial Secretary for Faith Lutheran Church, where John and Norma made many more lifelong friends.
John retired from GTE in 1987, which gave him even more time to “mess with the computer” as well as square dance with Norma, deliver Meals on Wheels, repair radios for the blind and become active in the Korean War Veterans of America. They also went on many trips overseas including China, Japan, Europe, and the Middle East, both with family and Elderhostel. One trip of note was a vacation in Australia and New Zealand with, their son Mark, daughter Debbie and her husband, Norma’s brother and sister-in-law, and their son Ted.
The acreage in Kentucky eventually became too much to handle and John and Norma decided to move to a condominium in the Glacier Hills Senior Living Community in Ann Arbor in 2012. They became active in the community and made many friends. They would dress up for Halloween and play bocce ball, corn hole, and pool. John was known as the pool shark “Kentucky Slim” and was requested by the women’s pool group to teach them how to improve their play.
In early 2017 John suffered a severe stroke and 1.5 years later broke his femur which prompted he and Norma to move into a quasi-assisted living apartment in late 2018. John was able to get around with a walker and wheelchair, but his pride and joy was his scooter which sported a headlight, break lights, turn signals, and a horn. Unfortunately, having never fully recovered from his initial stroke, his body gradually shut down and now he is with God in heaven.
John is survived by his wife Norma and son Mark Mau of Ann Arbor, MI (married to Kathy Bonds) and daughters Debbie McKinley of Greenbelt, MD (married to Bob Nelson); Karen Faulkner of Paris, KY (married to Beach Faulkner); and Christine Mau of Grosse Pointe Woods, MI. John is also survived by his siblings Mary Kummer of Santa Monica, CA, Albert Mau of San Jose, CA and Walter Mau of Sacramento, CA. He was preceded in death by his older brother Richard in 1990.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arbor Hospice: https://www.arborhospice.org/donate/ or
Zion Lutheran Church https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=tYgT1GfNxRUldiimjHMvOerWoHacHz23xkzoUraeSRVSrmZ9U_AtN0pBcgWapVsZums9tj3wI7okSf0MyMa8us3BoelR0Iz0CrLZNOU2M3E=&ver=3
or Glacier Hills Foundation: http://glacierhills.org/donate/
John was born on July 30, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan to Fred and Josephine (Lutz) Mau. Growing up mostly on farmland outside of St. Clair, he had a lively childhood swimming, sledding, ice skating, pheasant hunting, fishing and farming. He had an aptitude for math and science and learned construction skills and carpentry from his father, who had a construction business with his brother until the depression. John graduated valedictorian and class president from St. Clair High School in 1947, but turned down a college scholarship to work at Chris-Craft Boat Works in Algonac along with his father. After a year of working and saving money, and a year attending Port Huron Junior College, he enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1949. There he met the love of his life, Norma Jean Diamond, a Nursing major from Alpena, whom he met at the Lutheran Student Center. His life would never be the same.
John was drafted into the Marine Corps in 1951 and received his basic Marine Corps training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During the Korean Conflict, he was stationed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego where he attended radio school, learning to install and operate temporary radio transmission sites. His radio training eventually led to his long and varied career at General Telephone and Electric (GTE). He spent 2 years in active duty and later spent two years in the reserves.
After leaving the Marine Corps in 1953, John re-enrolled at the University of Michigan on the GI Bill and was reunited with Norma who was working at UM Hospital. John and Norma were married on September 4, 1954 in Alpena and honeymooned at Niagara Falls and New York City. After graduating in December 1955 with a Masters in Electrical Engineering, John moved his young family of three to Muskegon, Michigan where he went to work for GTE, specializing in the installation of microwave transmission towers. While in Muskegon, the family grew to a total of six. In January 1963, the family “transferred” to Elmhurst Illinois where John took a special research assignment with GTE’s Automatic Electric Lab. In 1965, he became the head of GTE’s expanding Office Phone Systems department in Tampa, Florida and “transferred” his family to Clearwater, Florida. He eventually became head of the 600-person Installation & Repair division, whose territory served the entire west coast of Florida. John was admired by his employees as well as their spouses, one of whom said she wished that her husband would talk about her with the same admiration as he did about John.
A natural born teacher, John was a Scoutmaster while in Elmhurst and in Clearwater, and taught Sunday School at St. Paul Lutheran Church. He also taught technical courses to GTE employees from offices around the country. An avid sailor, John was an active member of the Optimists Club, where he taught eager young sailors how to sail small sailboats. He enjoyed taking his children out on his 11-foot Sparkler and teaching them the finer points of sailing in the Intercostal Waterway. He sailed competitively against other Sparkler owners as well as crewed on larger sailboats that competed in the Gulf of Mexico.
John spent many hours tinkering in his garage, mostly working on his beloved 1965 Ford station wagon and 1966 VW beetle. Many memorable family trips were taken in the Ford, including, Key West, Everglades, and historical sites in the DC area. Family vacations were almost always spent in Alpena visiting Norma’s parents on their Michigan Centennial Farm helping to bale hay, tend cattle, pick stones, repair farm equipment, and attend family gatherings. The final trip with the entire family in 1975 included pulling a small “Scotty” camper trailer to visit Oak Creek, Grand and Bryce Canyons and National Parks including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Mount Rushmore. John and Norma also went on fun weekend trips with other “adult” members of St. Paul’s, many of whom became lifelong friends.
John was transferred once again in 1981 to Lexington, Kentucky to head GTE’s cell phone research group when the technology was in its infancy. He and Norma settled on 3.5 acres of land in horse country with a barn for a garage. He enjoyed tinkering in the garage, riding his mower, and tending the large garden. John and Norma hosted many a Derby party in their home, where with his love of numbers, John took the bets and doled out the winnings. He also served two years as the Financial Secretary for Faith Lutheran Church, where John and Norma made many more lifelong friends.
John retired from GTE in 1987, which gave him even more time to “mess with the computer” as well as square dance with Norma, deliver Meals on Wheels, repair radios for the blind and become active in the Korean War Veterans of America. They also went on many trips overseas including China, Japan, Europe, and the Middle East, both with family and Elderhostel. One trip of note was a vacation in Australia and New Zealand with, their son Mark, daughter Debbie and her husband, Norma’s brother and sister-in-law, and their son Ted.
The acreage in Kentucky eventually became too much to handle and John and Norma decided to move to a condominium in the Glacier Hills Senior Living Community in Ann Arbor in 2012. They became active in the community and made many friends. They would dress up for Halloween and play bocce ball, corn hole, and pool. John was known as the pool shark “Kentucky Slim” and was requested by the women’s pool group to teach them how to improve their play.
In early 2017 John suffered a severe stroke and 1.5 years later broke his femur which prompted he and Norma to move into a quasi-assisted living apartment in late 2018. John was able to get around with a walker and wheelchair, but his pride and joy was his scooter which sported a headlight, break lights, turn signals, and a horn. Unfortunately, having never fully recovered from his initial stroke, his body gradually shut down and now he is with God in heaven.
John is survived by his wife Norma and son Mark Mau of Ann Arbor, MI (married to Kathy Bonds) and daughters Debbie McKinley of Greenbelt, MD (married to Bob Nelson); Karen Faulkner of Paris, KY (married to Beach Faulkner); and Christine Mau of Grosse Pointe Woods, MI. John is also survived by his siblings Mary Kummer of Santa Monica, CA, Albert Mau of San Jose, CA and Walter Mau of Sacramento, CA. He was preceded in death by his older brother Richard in 1990.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arbor Hospice: https://www.arborhospice.org/donate/ or
Zion Lutheran Church https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=tYgT1GfNxRUldiimjHMvOerWoHacHz23xkzoUraeSRVSrmZ9U_AtN0pBcgWapVsZums9tj3wI7okSf0MyMa8us3BoelR0Iz0CrLZNOU2M3E=&ver=3
or Glacier Hills Foundation: http://glacierhills.org/donate/