Michael Maturo

Michael (Mike) D’Ambra Maturo (96) passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at Garden Terrace of Overland Park Skilled Nursing Facility in Overland Park, KS. Mike’s memorial mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church will be held at a later date, along with a Celebration of Life. Private family entombment will be held at Memorial Park Columbarium. Mike was born on December 24, 1929, in Kansas City, MO, the son of Leslie J. and Matilda J. (Bianco) Maturo. He spent his early years in Kansas City living with his mother after his father passed away in 1934. He moved to Lawrence, KS to be with his mother and stepfather Allessio P. “Duke” D’Ambra and later took his stepfather’s last name as his own middle name. Mike graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in 1948. He then attended the University of Kansas until 1951 when he was drafted into the US Army and served during the Korean Conflict in the 226 Signal Company as an Army photographer assigned to Generals Francis Dodd, Matthew Ridgeway and Mark Clark as the US Army photographer for the Panmunjom Peace Talks.

Upon completion of his service in the Army, Mike returned to Lawrence and married Jeannine Constance Schindler on August 1, 1953. He returned to the University of Kansas and completed his bachelor’s degree in Geology in 1955 and then began his career with US Gypsum Company in Okeene, OK. He worked in gypsum plants in Grand Rapids, MI, West Chester, PA and Marysville, KS before leaving that career to settle in Lawrence where he began his “next” career as a custom home builder in 1972. He retired in 1992.

He was a member of the Corpus Christi Catholic Church and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Mike and Jeannine were married for 67 years until Jeannine’s passing on April 8, 2020. Survivors include his two sons, Stephen D’Ambra Maturo, Roeland Park, KS, Michael Christopher "Chris" Maturo, Boca Raton, FL; three grandchildren, Heather Maturo Tolisano (Eric), Odessa, FL, Taylor Maturo, MD (Jaime Cabre), Decatur, GA, Matthew Maturo, Decatur, GA.; two great grandsons, Jacob and Cody Tolisano.

The family suggests memorials in his name to Corpus Christi Catholic Church or LMH Health Foundation and may be sent in care of the Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044. For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.