Aloysius Joseph Malak, 97

| January 25, 2019 12:00 AM

Aloysius Joseph Malak, 97, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at Life Care Center in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Mass of Christian burial will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, January 26, 2019, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with Father Dennis C. Day officiating. Inurnment will take place in Pinecrest Memorial Park later in the spring.

Aloysius (Al) was born to George and Frances Malak on Jan. 26, 1921, in Toledo, Ohio. He attended Delviss High School in Toledo. He worked at Tarta Bus Co. for 30 years. On Aug. 15, 1942, Al enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp as a radio operator for the 8th Air Force 392 Bomber Group 579 Squadron. After completing their bombing mission on Dec. 13, 1943, they were shot down in the North Sea. Al along with the other survivors paddled their raft toward England. The Germans apprehended them off the coast of Belgium. All was hospitalized on Dec. 15, 1943 in a Luftwaffe hospital for five days. Days later he was sent to Stalag 15B encampment for 1 1/2 years. After being forced marched in April 1945 to Brenna, Austria, the Americans found and liberated them on May 1, 1945.

While home on leave at a family gathering he met his wife to be, Elaine. They married on May 11, 1945 in Toledo, Ohio. They had two daughters, Pamela Hibbs and Catherine Detzer of Sandpoint. In 1987, they packed up and moved to Sandpoint. Al was an avid golfer starting at Inverness Country Club in Toledo, Ohio, and the Elks in Sandpoint. He was a parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

His wife Elaine passed in November 2016. Surviving are daughters, Pamela Hibbs and Catherine Dezter of Sandpoint; a granddaughter, Alyssa Stapleton of Athol; a great-grandson Hudson Stapleton; and nephews Mark and Kevin Kulczak.

The family extends their thanks to all of Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Life Care in Sandpoint for their care and support.

Family and friends are invited to sign Aloysius’s online guestbook at coffeltfuneral.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.