Joan Mary Maurer

Joan Mary Maurer (85) of Arroyo Grande, California passed away peacefully on

September 14, 2024 surrounded by her family. Joan, the youngest of five siblings, was

born to Joseph and Mary Jurak on January 14, 1939 in Compton, California. Following

her graduation from high school, Joan attended Compton College and later began

secretarial/accounting work at North American Rockwell.

During her college years, Joan’s brother Gilbert introduced her to an intelligent

classmate whom he considered worthy dating material. This classmate, Jack Maurer

became immediately smitten with Joan. She converted to Catholicism and Jack and

Joan were married on September 05, 1959 in Compton, California. The Maurer family

grew quickly with the birth of their first son, Paul in 1960. During the first 6 years of their

marriage Joan continued to work at North American Rockwell while helping to support

her husband and young children as Jack pursued his medical degree. Jack began his

practice as a Radiologist and Joan continued to raise and care for what eventually

became a household of seven children in the beautiful northern coast of California.

Joan is survived by her seven children, Paul (Martha) Maurer, Marie (Rodney) Maurer-

Mock, Lisa (Mark) Hassen, Heather (Todd) Christie, Lara (Allan) MacDonald, Greta

(Scott) Salhus, and John (Rebecca) Maurer, her brother Frank Jurak as well as her 17

beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Joan was predeceased by her husband Jack, her parents Joseph and Mary Jurak, as

well as her brother Gilbert Jurak and his wife Tommye Jurak and their daughter

Tommye Finan, Joan’s sister Eileen Jurak, her brother Gerry Jurak and his wife Edda

Jurak and their son Pete Jurak.

Joan was the joy, heart and center of her boisterous family. She had a beautiful smile

and a playful spirit and more energy than all of her seven children combined. Joan

loved family outings to the beach and the river and playing board games and doing

puzzles around the kitchen table. Dancing the Slovenian Polka brought her childhood

memories to life. Joan loved musicals and old movies, and she and Jack enjoyed

traveling and welcoming exchange students from around the world into their home. In

midlife Joan began running and competing in 5k’s and half marathons, often winning

first or second place in her age category. Over the past 15 years the effects of

Alzheimer’s slowly crept into Joan’s life. She handled the disease with grace, faith, and

a positive outlook. Joan continued to appreciate life’s precious moments. Her

endearing devotion to her husband Jack was ever apparent, always holding his hand

and spending time by his side. The sight of a child or baby would fill Joan with never

ending fascination and joy. Joan was a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend

and she will be truly missed.

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