MaryAnn Krach

MaryAnn Krach, 91, of Fort Wayne, passed away Monday, March 25, 2024.  She was born in Gary on January 30, 1933, the youngest of 3 children of (the late) Edward and Rose (O’Neal) Burke.  MaryAnn was raised in Gary and was the valedictorian of her high school class. She was an accomplished pianist, had perfect pitch, and led the music at Masses for years at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary. She attended St. Mary’s of the Woods College where she majored first in drama and theatre and later in biology. She received her master’s degree at Indiana University.  It was there that she met her future husband Jack, who took her to the IU Medical School’s Cadaver Ball for their first date.  They were married in 1957 and MaryAnn made all the bridesmaids’ dresses.  MaryAnn taught Biology in both the Gary and Indianapolis public schools. She had 6 children and has been a member of St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church in Fort Wayne for over 60 years. As her children were growing up, her entire family had dinner together every night and said the rosary afterward.  MaryAnn was a pure blood Irish lady, and her father’s family was from County Mayo.  She was a talented china painter and an avid collector, especially teapots. She would say about these items that, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” Her favorite outing was to go to antique malls with her sister Margaret.  MaryAnn also enjoyed going to home football games at Notre Dame with Jack to see what the ladies from Chicago were wearing. She enjoyed playing her mother’s pump organ at her home and singing hymns. MaryAnn was a huge follower of politics and often said she was glad to still be here because she wouldn’t have wanted to miss these exciting times. MaryAnn would tell jokes to neighbors passing by while she did yard work and would predict the harshness of winter based on the number of acorns falling in her front yard. She and her 2 siblings got together once a month for a 3-hour laughing lunch for the last 25 years of their lives. MaryAnn’s most pressing desire always was for all her family to make it to heaven. She passed out hundreds of books about the faith, underlining the most important passages from the first to the last page beforehand.  Her favorite saint was St. Anthony of Padua whom she said could find anything: a job, spouse, etc.  In addition to her parents, MaryAnn was also preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Jack Krach, her siblings Margaret (Jerry) Nolan and brother Edward (Margo) Burke and their spouses, and her son-in-law Eddy Simon. She is survived by her children Margo (James) Minutolo, Dave Krach, Dan (Maria) Krach, Janna (Jerry) Schoenle, Karen Krach, and Regina Krach, 15 grandchildren and their spouses, and 4 great grandchildren. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Monday, April 15, 2024, at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, 1502 E. Wallen Rd. with calling from 10-11am in the church.  There will also be calling from 2-6pm Sunday April 14, 2024, at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave. with the Rosary at 5:15pm. In lieu of flowers, the family’s preferred memorial is Glory to God Ministries, 1530 Old Lantern Trail, Fort Wayne, IN 46845.To share a remembrance of MaryAnn or to offer condolences, please visit www.divinemercyfuneralhome.com.