Submitted by: Dan Rich

Leonard R. Malecki

Oct. 27, 1924 - May 20, 2001

South Bend Tribune 5/24/2001

Leonard R. Malecki, age 76, of Sylvan Lane, South Bend, passed away at 8:31 p.m. Sunday in Memorial Hospital. He was born October 27, 1924, in South Bend, and was the son of the late Joseph S. and Joanna (Kiszka) Malecki. Mr. Malecki retired in 1987 after 25 years with the South Bend Community School Corporation. He was also an employee of the former Studebaker Corporation for 15 years. Mr. Malecki was a musician who performed with the following bands: Paul Futa Harmoniers, Bert Nowakowski, his own band the Merritones, and for 33 years with the Don Sugar Orchestra.

On July 26, 1947, in St. Casimir Catholic Church in South Bend, he married Valerie Chojnacki, who survives. He is also survived by a son and three daughters, Richard (Cynthia) Malecki of Ft. Wayne, IN, Linda (Richard) Preston of Pewaukee, WI, Cynthia (Gregory) Shroff and Nancy (Dale) Nalepinski, both of South Bend; and grandchildren, Jason (Angela), John (Theresa), Keri, Molly, Jessica (Ryan), Andrew, Emily, Lauren and Jillian; two great-grandchildren, Jarred and Madelyne; one sister, Gertrude (William) Brown of Mishawaka, IN; and a sister-in-law, Elsie Malecki of South Bend. Mr. Malecki was preceded in death by a brother, Bernard.

Family and friends may call from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. today in the ST. JOSEPH FUNERAL HOME, 824 S. Mayflower Rd., where a Rosary will be said at 4:00 p.m. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Family Catholic Church, with entombment to follow in the Resurrection Gardens Mausoleum in the St. Joseph Cemetery.

Mr. Malecki was a World War II Army veteran with the 1901st Engineer Aviation Battalion serving in the Pacific Theater, Okinawa Campaign. He was a member of the American Legion Pulaski Post #357, the Michiana Mustangs Car Club, and Holy Family Catholic Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163; or Holy Family Catholic Church Building Fund, 56405 Mayflower Rd., South Bend, IN 46619. His memory and his music will live forever in our hearts. He will be missed by all who knew him.