Mary Ann Formanek

Mary Ann (Greiman) Formanek passed away on March 9, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona just shy of her 93rd birthday. She was born on April 21,1933, the second of two daughters to Aaron and Bessie (Kurtz) Greiman in Belmond, Iowa.

As a young girl, Mary Ann enjoyed fishing, caring for all kinds of critters, and reading. She attended Garner High School where she met the love of her life, Lewis Formanek. Lew was called to service in 1951 in the U.S. Army. While Lew was serving his country, Mary taught elementary school in Belmond, Iowa. Upon Lew’s return, they married in 1954. Mary and Lew made Belmond their home for 12 years and welcomed a son, Michael.

In 1966, Mary and Lew filled an old school bus with all their belongings and moved to Phoenix, Arizona, to start a new adventure in the desert away from the Iowa snow. They settled in central Phoenix and later moved to the Arcadia area. Lew went to work for Allied Signal and Mary taught at Camelback Desert School. A few years later, their second son Mark was born and Mary graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in Education. She went on to teach in the Scottsdale Unified School District for the next 20 years, teaching kindergarten thru 2nd grade at several schools and retiring in 1992. Mary also taught religious education classes after school at St. Theresa for many years.

Mary and Lew were dedicated parents to their boys and enjoyed attending Boy Scout activities and many, many, football, basketball, and baseball games. Mary was usually carrying her schoolbag of assignments to grade to distract her from the roughness of the sports. Mary and Lew also enjoyed traveling the country and fishing trips with their boys in the family cab-over camper and RV. They also enjoyed traveling outside of the states with friends. One of their favorites being their cruise trip to the Panama Canal.

From 1992 to 2006 Mary and Lew became grandparents to five wonderful grandchildren. Mary and Lew happily attended as many after school activities and sporting events their grandkids were involved in, babysitting, and school drop-offs and pick-ups. Being a former teacher, Mary loved visiting the kids’ classrooms to read stories and teach new crafts. She was well known for bringing her potato soup and other goodies to her grandkid’s school’s teachers lounges as well.

Baking, especially around the holidays, was also something Mary loved. She would enlist as many grandkids she could to help at this annual event enjoyed by all. Her cookie recipes will continue to be used for years to come.

Mary had a special love of butterflies and enjoyed seeing them, painting them, collecting special collections of them, and wore clothes with butterfly prints whenever possible. We would like to believe she turned into a beautiful angel butterfly after she passed!

Mary and Lew loved to travel later in life. One of these trips led them to Lake Tahoe. They loved it so much; they invested in property there. Thirty-plus years later, it is still an annual destination for the whole family. Mary loved to walk the beach in the morning with the grandkids to pick up garbage, any glass that the kids might step on, and beautiful, small stones to use while crafting. She believed in keeping the beaches clean for many generations to come. She also had special Fourth of July hats the grandkids would wear every year for a special picture. Mary and Lew made a bunch of new friends in Tahoe and would enjoy dinners, sunsets, and great conversation with them every year.

Mary was also active in St. Theresa’s Sodality until 2023. She was a dedicated member of the “Kitchen Angels” who would serve meals after funeral services and host senior luncheons. She took a special interest in decorating the tables with monthly themes. She would spend hours writing and printing poems or making crafts for table decorations.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Aaron and Bessie, her sister, Betty (Larry) Fox and husband of 66 years, Lew. Mary and Lew were the proud parents of Mike (Beth) and Mark (Kristen). They were blessed with five grandchildren; Mary Frances (Ben), John (Madelin), Aaron, Macey, and Emmie. Mary had countless nieces, nephews, and cousins that live in the valley and throughout the Midwest that she dearly loved and talked with frequently. A celebration of life for both of them will be held at 10:00am on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Rd., in Phoenix.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Savior Hospice. Mary was lovingly and efficiently cared for by Savior Hospice. Mary’s family sincerely thanks them for their support and kindness.