Mary Jo Case

It is with great sorrow that we say goodbye to Mary Jo who passed away on Friday, August 21, 2026. She courageously fought stage IV breast cancer with her tremendous faith in God and her positive attitude.

Mary Jo was born in Denver, Colorado to Ann and Ed Steinauer. In 8th grade, Mary Jo’s Dad was transferred to the Kansas City area. Mary Jo graduated from Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park, Kansas. She then attended and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education in 1976. The summer before her junior year in college her dad was transferred to Omaha, Nebraska where Mary Jo began her teaching career at Westside High School in Omaha.

Mary Jo met the love of her life, Bob Case, in Omaha and they married on April 11, 1980. They were blessed with three children Nikki (Kyriakos) Zannikos, Dr. Brian (Dr. Amy) Case, and Kevin Case. Mary Jo’s pride and joy were her three children and seven grandchildren: Charlie, Vera, and Eleanor Zannikos; and Emily, Kelsey, Madison, and Connor Case.

In 1987 Mary Jo and Bob moved to Plano, Texas where they raised their three children. Mary Jo taught CCD at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton for six years. She also loved volunteering at the children’s schools.

In 1999, Mary Jo began teaching at Jasper High School in Plano, ISD for 15 years. She loved teaching and she was a born teacher. She knew she touched her students’ lives with the cards she received, invitations to their weddings, and baby showers and the hugs she would receive. She retired in 2014 after 21 years of teaching. After retirement, Mary Jo joined the Women’s Club and the Bereavement Committee at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Mary Jo always treasured her family and friends. She always put others first. She loved holidays, family gatherings and family trips; any time spent with her family was important to her. Mary Jo is also survived by her two sisters; Sheila (Bob) Lindberg, Susie Steinauer, sister-in-law Annette Steinauer, and her brother Richard (Tina) Steinauer; and several nephews and nieces. She is preceded in death by her brother Eddie Steinauer and parents Ann and Ed Steinauer.

The most beautiful gift Mary Jo gave to the world was her devout and never-ending Faith. She was an inspiration for all the lives she touched and will be missed by everyone that knew her.

The Celebration of Life for Mary Jo will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, September 4, 2026, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.  With a reception to follow. 

In lieu of flowers Mary Jo has asked that donations be made to the Team Izzy Foundation at: https://teamizzyfoundation.org/ , “In Honor of Mary Jo Case”. Team Izzy Foundation is a nonprofit organization that advocates children fighting childhood cancer and raises funds for pediatric cancer research.