Wayne C. Malachek, age 87, of Maple Lake died Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Banner Ocotillo Medical Center in Chandler, Arizona with family by his side.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 7, 2025, at St. Timothy Catholic Church, Maple Lake with Fr. John Meyer as Celebrant. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday and 9-10 a.m. on Friday, both at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Maple Lake. A prayer service will be at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Burial will take place at Wildwood Cemetery in Beltrami County.

Wayne Carroll Malachek was born to Arnold and Dorothy (Isensee) Malachek on July 21, 1937, in Monticello, Minnesota. Wayne grew up in Maple Lake and was a 1955 graduate of Maple Lake High School. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Wayne served his country with honor. After his service, he embarked on a career as an operating engineer in the construction industry. He worked at Northern Contracting, Lunda Construction, Johnson Brothers, Truck Crane Service, and Spancrete Midwest. While working these full time jobs, he also owned and operated Waynes Radiator Service for over twenty years. He was a member of the IUOE Local 49ers in Minneapolis. He was also a lifelong member of St. Timothy Catholic Church in Maple Lake and as an adult, became a member of the Parish Choir. On January 18, 1992, Wayne was married to Rose Goelz at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Maple Lake.

Wayne was always tinkering on something and known for helping his neighbors in Minnesota and Arizona. He liked antiques and finding lonely figurines that needed a home and some love. Wayne loved working with his hands operating equipment on the farm, including his dump truck, track hoe, and bulldozer. He also loved classic cars and trucks, buying, selling and working on well over 100 collector cars during his lifetime. Wayne still has the very first car purchased by the Malachek family in 1929; it is a Ford Model A that still runs and drives. He would often say that he doesn't talk much, but those who knew him would tell you different. He liked to joke with people, even when first meeting them. Wayne enjoyed country music; the neighbors around the farm could hear him singing while he was on the tractor in the fields. He loved watching Maple Lake Lakers baseball, especially when his grandson was pitching. Wayne spent his life embodying the values of hard work, dedication, and unwavering love for his Catholic Faith, family and friends.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 33 years, Rose of Maple Lake; children, Charles (Terri) Malachek of Maple Lake, Todd (Judy) Malachek of Maple Lake, and Lori (David) Hangsleben of Solway; stepchildren, Tom (Kim) Goelz of Buffalo, Debra (Mark) Miller of Annandale, Mary Jo (Steve) Logeais of Annandale, Michael (Kim) Goelz of Annandale, and Patrick (Sheri) Goelz of Annandale; 18 grandchildren, Hailee, Hunter, Joe (Beth), Jenny (Mark), Amanda (Nathan), Roy (April), Abbie (Barry), John (Daidre), Mitch (Meghan), Jared, Jordan (Lisa), Jade, Jillian, Holly (Jon), Tony (Jenny), Melanie (Aaron), Amanda (Shawn), and Erika (Jared); 22 great-grandchildren, Kiana, Kaylan, Austin, Eli, Landon, Aaron, Owen, Lily, Cora, Jack, Wyatt, Devin, Nora, Hank, Elsie, Brynlee, Teagan, Isabelle, Russell, Lydia, Harvey, and McKenna; brother, Richard (Mary) Malachek; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Labelle Zeller, Mary Grotz, and Jim Borell; and many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Joseph Malachek; siblings, Lois Malachek, Shirley (Glen) Stern; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Gertrude (Paul) Donovan, Viola (Chuck) Asgian, Robert (Phyllis) Zeller, Ed Zeller, Walter Grotz, and Cathy Borell.

Arrangements entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial and Cremation Services of Maple Lake.

Obituary, Guestbook, Video Tribute and Funeral Webcast online at www.dingmannfuneral.com