Johnnie B. Maschek Jr., known to most as John, spent a lifetime building things. As an Eagle Scout, a Navy Seabee who served in Vietnam, an engineer, a skilled woodworker, and an accomplished sailor, he approached life with intelligence, determination, and an unwavering work ethic. John passed away on July 12, 2026, in Plano, Texas, at the age of 79.
John was born on March 11, 1947, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Johnnie B. Maschek Sr. and Melba Oleda (Harrison) Maschek. He was raised in West Texas and Fort Worth, where he graduated from Arlington Heights High School in 1965.
From an early age, John was energetic, talented, and curious. He became an Eagle Scout and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow, earning qualifications in water rescue along the way. Music was another important part of his early life. He learned the bugle, cornet, trumpet, bass fiddle, and several other brass instruments, served as drum major, and performed with his school jazz band, the Stardusters, as well as local garage bands.
John entered the Navy Reserve while still in high school and began active duty after graduation. He served with the U.S. Navy Seabees in Quang Tri Province during the Vietnam War, where he worked in military communications, establishing and maintaining communications systems that supported Seabee operations. John rarely spoke at length about his military service, but when he did, his stories reflected both the realities of war and the humor that helped carry him through it.
After his military service, John attended the University of Texas at Arlington before beginning his career as a draftsman. With only a few semesters of college, he relied on curiosity, perseverance, and an extraordinary ability to teach himself. Through hard work and determination, he built a successful career as a hydraulic engineer, helping design and build hydraulic systems and drilling equipment for the energy industry.
His career included work with Hydra Rig, Hydra-Dyne, Stewart & Stevenson, and other companies, taking him throughout Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and North Carolina, as well as overseas to Greenland, China, and the Middle East. Though work carried him far from home, he spent much of his adult life in Arlington and Grand Prairie before retiring in Plano.
John was a craftsman in every sense of the word. Following in the footsteps of his father, he became an accomplished woodworker who found satisfaction in creating things with his own hands. Whether building furniture, renovating a home, or tackling whatever project came next, he was happiest when he was making something better. He also enjoyed gardening—another way to keep his hands busy and take satisfaction in helping something grow. Those who knew John knew he was intelligent, hardworking, and never afraid to take on a challenge. He could be quite stubborn, but that same determination carried him through nearly every chapter of his life. For John, rest was rarely found in sitting still—it was found in building.
Water was one of the enduring loves of John’s life. As a young man, he became an accomplished water skier, known for both his skill and confidence. Later, he owned a number of sailboats, became a licensed boat captain, and participated in sailing regattas on Lake Texoma. He was happiest with the wind in his sails and the water beneath him.
John was also a devoted Jimmy Buffett fan. His favorite Buffett lyric, Some of Its Magic, resonated so deeply with him that he gave the name to more than one of his sailboats. For John, the phrase came to represent something larger: those fleeting moments when the ordinary gives way to something special—when we are fully present and able to recognize the small measure of magic life offers. He found many of those moments on the water.
John was preceded in death by his daughter, Michele Maschek Burgess, in 2013.
He is survived by his sons, Johnnie “Trey” Coffey, Todd Shipley, and Alan Maschek (Hollie Fuhrmann); his grandchildren, Julia Coffey, Eden Shipley, Cooper Shipley, and July Blue Maschek; his sister, Melneta Elizabeth "Beth" Tatom (Thomas Jackson "Tim" Tatom); and Jamie Lucas Maschek, his first wife and a lifelong friend who remained an important part of his life. He also leaves behind extended family, former colleagues, sailing companions, and many friends whose lives were enriched by knowing him.
John lived a full, accomplished, and adventurous life. He worked hard, learned continuously, built things meant to last, traveled widely, and always felt the pull of the water.
Some of it's magic, some of it's tragic, but I had a good life all the way.