Aloysius J Malak

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

Mass of Christian burial will be conducted at 11:00 am, 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 January 26, 1921 in Toledo, Ohio.  He attended Delviss High School in Toledo, Ohio.  He worked at Tarta Bus Co. for 30 years.  On august 15, 1942 Al enlisted in the US Army Air Corp as a radio operator for the 8^th Air Force 392 Bomber Group 579 Squadron.  After completing their bombing mission on December 13, 1943, they were shot down in the North Sea.  Al along with survivors paddled their raft toward England.  The Germans apprehended them off the coast of Belgium.  All was hospitalized on December 15, 1943 in a Luftwaffe hospital for five days.  Days later he was sent to Stalag 15B encampment for 1 ½ years.  After being forced marched in April 1945 to Brenna, Austria the Americans found and liberated us 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, granddaughter Alyssa Stapleton of Athol, great grandson Hudson Stapleton and nephews Mark and Kevin Kulczak.

The family extends their thanks to all of Kootenai Health in CDA and Life Care in Sandpoint for their care and support.