John Maher

John Bernard Maher III, 75, passed away Tuesday, March 11, 2025 in Des Moines. Per his wishes, no funeral services will be held.

John was born August 12, 1949 in Des Moines, IA to John Bernard Maher II and Patricia Ann (Dwyer) Maher. He attended Dowling Catholic High School. John was the proud father of two daughters, Logan Maher and Jacklyn McVay.

John had a lifelong passion for food and feeding people. This passion manifested in being the co-owner/operator of the Chapter 13 Bar and Grill in the Courthouse district of Downtown Des Moines with his brother Patrick Maher as a younger man. He eventually became the owner and center point of his long-standing business Execuserve: Catering by John Maher. John was a natural salesman and used his charm to sell people a dream instead of a simple event. Throughout his catering career he regularly re-invented himself and his business model; at times being the exclusive caterer for Pioneer, being trusted to create and coordinate phenomenal weddings at the Stix Warehouse south of the Racoon River in Des Moines, IA, for years providing delicious burgers to a variety of customers at the Parrot Head Burger Barge on the corner of 2nd and Franklin, and being the on-site caterer at the Des Moines John Deere Facility. John was always proud to share that he was fortunate enough to feed two sitting presidents at different catered events. With all of those changes and different paths that John pursued, he was always happy to craft delicious meals for his family at home for birthdays and celebrations, making each event one to be remembered by the friends and family who were a part of them.

Those who knew John knew that he was always passionate about cars. Indiscriminately loving antique and modern vehicles, with a particular penchant for Corvettes, that endured from his teenage years until the end of his life. John loved bringing his vision for vehicles to life by spending time restoring vintage vehicles into something new and interesting. The exact number of cars he owned through his life is still a heated debate amongst those who were close to him, but his passion for cars was always shared with his daughter Jacklyn, and was the center of many adventures and conversations between them.

In his younger years John was an avid golf player, and remained a passionate golf fan throughout his life. When he was younger, he enjoyed playing with his sister regularly. While with age and less free time he stopped playing golf, he always enjoyed watching different tournaments and was always known to keep track of the various players. His sister Margaret will always fondly remember him being a very skilled golfer, the Golf Pro at Wakonda Golf Club, and that if he were to dedicate himself, he would be a scratch golfer. The sport was a shared passion between John and his father, John Bernard Maher II.

John’s first place of employment was at his father’s company, Mid-Continent Industries. John worked in the Des Moines plant and the Fort Dodge plant at different times. While John did not take over the company as he grew older, he was introduced to business ownership and operation through these opportunities. Those experiences were a constant resource through the different businesses and self-re-invention that was a constant theme throughout his life.

John is preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother Patrick Maher. He is survived by his daughters Logan Maher and Jacklyn (Jeremy) McVay; and his sisters Margaret (Glenn Chris Williams) Maher-Williams and Bridgett Maher.

Online condolences are welcome at IlesFuneralHomes.com.