Edwin “Papa” Malkusak

Edwin “Papa” Malkusak

1941 - 2021

Edwin Charles Malkusak passed away peacefully in the late afternoon hours of Friday, November 12, 2021, while surrounded by his beloved children.

Born October 19, 1941, in Chicago, IL, Ed was the only child born to Charles and Mary Malkusak. He was preceded in death by his adored wife Isabel “Izzy” and is survived by his ever-loving children: daughter Mary (Bill-ex) Van Pelt, sons, Antonio “Tony” (Diane) Malkusak, Michael “Mike” (Lynn) Malkusak, and Edward “Eddie” (Michelle) Malkusak, and his treasured grandchildren, and cherished great grandchild.

Ed was a proud and devout member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish in Frankfort, IL, which he attended regularly with Isabell.

Early in his life Ed was a musician and a coach; always ready to share with others the happiness he found in music and sports, even if the Sox and Bears almost always disappointed him. He liked to cook and could have doubled as a short order chef in a greasy south-side diner. Around his home, which he was so proud of, he spent his summers gardening and making sun tea, and was infamous for his do-it-yourself projects where he coined the phrase, “measure once and cut twice” and never found a problem that duct tape couldn’t solve.

Even though he enjoyed his hobbies and his favorite activities, his true love was his family. He was so proud of his family and he gave them so much. To those who loved him he was more than a father, grandfather, family member, or friend; he was a mentor, a storyteller, a protector, a teacher, a goof, and a provider. You could say he was one-of-a-kind, but that would be an understatement. And while “the old man” was a noted grump, he was our grump and his family absolutely cherished him. He was the best, and one of his favorite sayings embodied his life, “the cream always rises to the top.”

Visitation will be held at Kurtz Memorial Chapel in Frankfort on Thursday, November 18 from 4:00-8:00pm, and then on Friday, November 19 from 9:30-10:30am. Prayers will then begin at 10:30am followed by a service at St. Anthony Catholic Church at 11:00am. Family and friends are then invited to take part in the interment which will take place at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Frankfort at approximately 12:00pm with a luncheon immediately afterwards at 1:00pm at Aurelio's in Frankfort. Masks/PPE and social distancing will be required in all settings. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ed’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org), or PAWS Chicago (www.pawschicago.org) would be appreciated. Funeral arrangements handled by Kurtz Memorial Chapel, Frankfort www.kurtzmemorialchapel.com or 815-806-2225.

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