Edward F. Mallek, 96, Junction City, WI died Friday, May 23, 2014 at his home. 

Edward was born on January 31, 1918 in the Town of Eau Pleine, Portage County to Joseph and Francis (Bobrowski) Mallek. He was united in marriage to Angeline M. “Nell” Zarecki on January 25, 1941 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Junction City. Angeline preceded him in death on June 15, 2010 after celebrating 69 ½ loving years of marriage together.

Edward left his job with the Soo Line Railroad and entered the United States Army during World War II on December 29, 1942 as part of the “Greatest Generation”.  He was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theatre, including Pearl Harbor, Guadacanal, Saipan, New Guinea, among other Pacific Islands, and Okinawa. He served in the 302^nd Engineer Battalion as a Technical Sergeant and Mechanic Foreman working with heavy equipment and trucks.  Edward was on the Japanese Island of Okita when the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan resulting in him not having to go into any further combat.  However, on his way home his boat was almost sunk but fortunately for us he survived.

Devotion to farming, crops, and machinery was Edward’s passion. Together with Angeline, they worked very hard and instilled that work ethic in family and those around them.  Edward enjoyed custom farming for other farmers in Portage and Wood Counties, and was one of the first farmers to have the latest machinery (the John Deere tractor played his favorite polkas & was air conditioned).  He developed (at that time) special farming skills such as testing his own milk for quality and quantity, welding classes to repair or rebuild his machinery, and had a solid rapport with area machinery dealers and other farmers.  He practiced leading edge technologies such as transitioning from threshing machines and horses, hand milked cows and milk-cans; to self-propelled combines, automated milking systems, slurry manure system, as well as other modern farm equipment and crop variety genetics. In his early days of farming, he also managed a very successful gas route for Dairyman’s Coop in Junction City.  He was born into a generation where a handshake and a person’s word were a serious bond and obligation. Regardless of how hard Edward worked, at the end of the day, he always made time for his family.

Edward was a life-time member of St. Michael’s Parish, where he served as an usher and belonged to the Holy Name Society.  He was a charter and honorary member of Knights of Columbus Council 4646 and also a member of the American Legion Post 6.

He is survived by his children, Edward Mallek and Peter (Betty) Mallek, and Mary Ann (George) Berken; eight grandchildren, Scott Mallek, Natalie (Christopher) Cahlamer, Nathan Berken, Abigail (Matthew) Karch, Victoria (Jeffrey) Romanski, Kristine Mallek, Jacquelynne (Corbin) King and Jonathan Mallek; five great-grandchildren, Hannah Cahlamer, Noah and Lilah Romanski, Gabriel, Caleb and baby Karch (due in August).

He is further survived by two brothers, Aloysius (Venard) Mallek, Joseph (Sharon) Mallek, three sisters, Martha Mancl, Josephine (Donald) Martens and Rosemarie Kawlewski, two sisters’-in-law Mary (William) Houtary and Adrieann Zarecki.

Edward was predeceased by his parents, wife Angeline, twin grandsons Timothy and Thomas Mallek, three brothers Victor and Adam, who both died in infancy, and Benedict, and one sister Celia Ciaglo.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Junction City.  After mass, burial will be at St. Michael’s Parish Cemetery with military funeral honors.  Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers and grandsons’ in-law as honorary pallbearers.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 pm Tuesday at Martens/Rembs Funeral Home, Junction City and again Wednesday at the Church from 10:00 am until Mass time.  There will be a 7:00 pm rosary service Tuesday led by Fr. Lyle Schulte and the Knights of Columbus Council 4646 of Junction City at the funeral home.

Edward’s family extends their gratitude and appreciation to all of his past and present caregivers for their caring and concern as well as the support and help of Fawn, Dixie and the VA.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com