Helen J. Malek

GARNER - Helen J. Malek, 94, of Garner died Sunday (July 26, 2009) at the Concord Care Center in Garner.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Thursday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan with Fr. Brian Dellaert officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Duncan.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 P.M., Wednesday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner with a combined Rosary Society and Catholic Workman rosary at 5 P.M. and a Scriptural wake service at 8 P.M. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Helen Josephine Malek, the daughter of Jilji and Rose (Hejlik) Hrubes, was born March 25, 1915 on the family farm south of Duncan. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Helen attended the rural schools of Liberty Township and Britt High School. On September 21, 1937, she was married to Sylvester Malek at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. They settled on the Malek farm northwest of Garner where she kept busy helping with the farming and raising their three children. Helen spent many years as a waitress and cook in area restaurants along with selling Stanley Home products for 38 years. She also was employed at the Britt News Tribune selling subscriptions and worked part time for 4 years at Opportunity Village in Clear Lake. In 1974, Helen and Syl retired from farming and moved into Garner. In 2004, she moved to Concord Care Center. She enjoyed her family and supporting her husband in his band over the years. Her hobbies included bowling in women's league, gardening, playing cards, playing the button accordion and bingo. She especially enjoyed her trip to Alaska and Hawaii with Syl celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

She was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church where she sang in the choir, Catholic Workman FCSLA w52 and Rosary Society.

Helen is survived by her children, Shirley Rasche of Garner, Bob Malek (fiancée, Peg) of Garner and Donna (Don) Jacobsen of Garner; grandchildren, Shane Rasche, Ryan (Tracey) Lester, Brent (Amy) Lester, Heidi (Mike) Seaberg, Eric (Kimberly) Malek and Crystal Malek; great grandchildren, Morgan and Payton Lester, Braydon, Jakob and Tatum Lester and Nolan and Gabby Seaberg; a sister, Mary Trca of Britt; brothers, Joe (Leona) Hrubes of Britt and Clarence (Joan) Hrubes of Garner; sisters-in-law, Margaret Hrubes of Garner and Eileen Malek of Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Syl, Sept. of 1994; son-in-law, Karl Heinz Rasche; brothers, Frank, John and Ray Hrubes; sisters, Agnes Nedved, Emily Trca, Rose Johanns and Elsie Vavrik; and brother-in-law, Ed Malek.