BARBARA A. (ENGRAM) MAROSCHER

Marion-Barbara A. (Engram) Maroscher went home to her Lord and Savior on May 19, 2022.  She was born July 24, 1937, the sixth child of Bessie and Harry Engram, both of whom, along with her five siblings, preceded her in death.  She has many nieces and nephews and dozens of first cousins.  If we ate Sunday lunch in Franklin County after church, we always ran into at least one or two cousins no matter where we went – her mother was one of thirteen children that lived to adulthood.  Barbara Maroscher had four children, eight grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.

Barbara Maroscher was class valedictorian at Johnston City High School in 1955.  She was also elected Homecoming Queen that year.  She was awarded a scholarship to attend Southern Illinois University at Carbondale but chose to go to work to help support her mother after her father's death when she was fifteen years old.  Barbara Maroscher was a 76-year member of the Washington Avenue Baptist Church of Johnston City.  She served as church organist and pianist there for over 60 years, filled a variety of roles as a church officer, and taught Vacation Bible School many times.

To her husband, Guenter (Gus) Maroscher of Marion, Barbara was the great love of his life.  Put simply, he adored his wife and she adored him.  They married in 1990 and took many trips to Europe as well as other exotic locales like Cave-in-Rock with the grandkids.  Together they raised "Molly the Wonder Dog," another love of Mom's life.    When reflecting on their lives together, Barbara just recently said to Gus, "We sure had fun."

To her four children, Deb A. (Dan) Pender and John K. Dobbins, both of Johnston City, and Rebecca J. (Larry) O'Neill and Beth L. (Trent) Mohlenbrock, both of rural Carbondale, she was a guidance counselor, teacher, parent, cook and caregiver, confidant, healer, builder of croup tents, leader, seamstress of Barbie doll clothes, craftswoman with true talent, gardener, doctor, nurse, defender and prosecutor (as needed), artist, designer, …this list could go on and on.  In short, she was a mother extraordinaire!  Her children are truly the most blessed group of kids to have ever lived!

To her grandchildren and great grandchildren, she was their beloved "MawMaw," the holiday and tea party planner, the generous and thoughtful gift giver, and the solid anchor that kept us all gathering together throughout the years.  Especially popular with the kids were the many Halloween parties MawMaw hosted for them over the years.

Grandchildren include Anna Pender Vick of Johnston City, Rebecca Pender Baum of Murray, Kentucky, John D. Pender of Johnston City, Lawrence John O'Neill V of New York City, New York, Heather Mohlenbrock Cain of Springfield, Illinois, Maggie Beth O'Neill of Stockholm, Sweden, Andrew Robert Mohlenbrock of Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Luke James O'Neill of Marion, Illinois.  Great grandchildren include Noah, Oliver, and Harrison Pender of Johnston City, Madison Baum of Murray, Kentucky, Liam and Henry Cain of Springfield, Illinois, and Layla and Nora Vick of Johnston City.

To the world, Barbara A. Maroscher was a working professional.  She worked in the banking industry for many years and then entered a position with the local office of an international company based in Germany with US headquarters in New York City.  When she traveled to other countries, without fail the locals believed Barbara Maroscher must be a descendant of people from their own countries.  Everyone claimed her as their own!  She mentored the High School Business Club and took several students on a trip to New York City.  One student commented that she showed him the world that existed out there that he had not even thought about before.

It is said that a son's first true love is his mother and a mother's last true love is her son.  The author of this obituary has personally experienced what this saying means.  I have also witnessed how my three sisters have each been great mothers to their children, probably because they had such a great role model and teacher.  This is the enduring legacy of Barbara A. Maroscher In recent weeks my sisters and I experienced great joy while spending many hours with Mom and each other as we, together with Gus, cared for her over the past several months.

Services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Friday, May 20, 2022, at the Washington Ave. Baptist Church of Johnston City Pastor Marlin Otte officiating. Burial will be in the Lakeview Cemetery of Johnston City. Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Friday at the Murman & Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or to the Washington Ave. Baptist Church of Johnston City.