Doris Malek

     Doris Malek, age 90, of Decorah, IA, died on Sunday, June 1, 2014, at the Barthell Eastern Star Home in Decorah, IA.      Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 6, 2014, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 West Main Street, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Phillip Gibbs presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.      Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Thursday, June 5, 2014, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, in Decorah. There will be a Catholic Daughters of America rosary at 4:00 p.m., Thursday. Friends may also call after 9:30 a.m., at the church on Friday morning.      Doris Faye (Dodge) Malek was born on December 28, 1923, the daughter of Ernest Arthur and Gladys Hazel (Girard) Dodge near Waltham, Minnesota, in Mower County. Doris attended and graduated from Austin High School in Austin, MN in 1941. She graduated from Hamilton Business College in Mason City, IA. She worked as a secretary in a law office in Austin for a few years. Doris was united in marriage to John “Jack” Malek on October 1, 1949, at the Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Austin, MN. Together they lived in Faribault and Lyle, MN from 1950-54 and in Blooming Prairie from 1954-64. In 1964, they moved to Decorah, where Jack was employed with the Milwaukee Railroad. Doris worked for the Isadore Meyer law firm during tax time. Doris worked at St. Benedict Catholic School, as the secretary from 1970 until she retired in December 1983. Doris loved to play cards, listen to the radio and above everything else she loved her husband, children, and her grandchildren. Doris was a kind, gentle spirit, who was gracious, loving and will be missed dearly by her family. Doris was a member of St. Benedict Catholic Church and St. Mark’s Circle, the Catholic Daughters of America and the Ministers of Praise Prayer Group.      Doris is survived by her husband: John “Jack” Malek, Decorah, IA. Three sons: Joseph (Kenda) Malek, Ames, IA; James Malek, Savage, MN; and Donald Malek, Seattle, WA. One daughter: Mary (Lee) Larson, Rosemount, MN. One daughter-in-law: Ericka Malek, Seattle, WA. Thirteen grandchildren: Molly (Steve) Lujan, Megan Malek, Jeff (Angela) Malek, Mady (Jake) Orton, Lauren (Chris) Coleman, Nicholas Malek, Chad Malek, Zach Malek, Parker Malek, Leah Malek, Evie Larson, Lee Larson and Kyle Larson. Nine great grandchildren: Joey, Andy & Cooper Lujan, Lincoln & Brielle Malek, Kinley & Gracelynne Orton, and Isabelle & Ireland Coleman.      Doris was preceded in death by her parents: Ernest and Gladys Dodge. One son: Charles “Chuck” Malek on Dec. 27, 2010. One sister: Marion (Clair) Broadwater. Her father and mother-in-law: Joseph & Teresa Malek. One brother-in-law: Donald (Cressie) Malek. Special friends: Marian and George Walerak.