Frank Maleckas Jr., peacefully passed away March 20 at his home in Ludington. Frank was born Nov. 26, 1916, in Niagara Falls, New York, to Frank and Valeria (Matevich) Maleckas. He graduated from Custer High School with the class of 1936 and continued his education at Western Michigan University graduating with a bachelors of science in education. In 1941, responding to Uncle Sam's draft call, he became a member of the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division, Company M of the U.S. Army National Guard with an original service commitment of one year. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he transferred to the Army Air Corps, received a commission as a Second Lieutenant, and became a navigator on a B24 bomber with the 13th Air Force in the South Pacific.
During Frank's career as a navigator he was a member of four crews and the sole survivor of two bomber crashes. One of Frank's proudest achievements was his completion of "One 11 Millionth of a War" where he recounts his experiences which included his 45 hours in the Pacific Ocean and the six weeks prior to his rescue living with the natives on the island of Choiseul. Frank was a recipient of the Purple Heart.
Frank married the love of his life, Helen Olga Martinchek, on March 15, 1944, in Custer, during a 30-day sick leave from a military hospital in Temple, Texas. After a brief return to the Temple hospital, promotion to Captain and Navigator Student Flight Instructor, and a period as a navigator instructor; he was discharged from the service in July 1945. Frank, Helen and newborn son Aldon moved to Frankfort, where he began teaching mathematics and science in the Frankfort Public Schools. Frank and family, which now included daughter Janet, moved back to Scottville in 1955 where Frank began teaching in the Mason County Central School System. He retired in 1980 after a total of 35 years of active teaching. While in Frankfort he had joined an active Air Force Reserve Unit. After 23 years of active and reserve military duty, he retired in 1968 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Frank's numerous interests and hobbies encompassed photography which included taking photographs for family, professional photographers, and the Mason County Central School Annual; painting; shipbuilding; and building a Frank Lloyd Wright home north of Scottville. After retiring from teaching he completed a 9 foot stick-built replica of the USS Constitution that he had started while still in high school. He continued shipbuilding by completing a 10 foot model of the USS Missouri and 12 foot Vietnam version of the USS Iowa. The USS Constitution remains in the family while the USS Missouri and USS Iowa have been donated to the Michigan's Own Military and Space Museum in Frankenmuth. There is an exhibit dedicated to Frank which includes his book, model ships, and military memorabilia. Frank was a member of the VFW, Amvets, American Legion, and MARSP.
Frank was a dedicated and loving husband, father, and educator. He was affectionately known by many of his students as "Master". He greatly enjoyed the many students who kept in contact with him over the years. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him.
Frank is survived by Helen, his wife of 69 years; son Aldon (Linda) Maleckas, daughter Janet (Robert) Brietzke; grandchildren Chandra (Brett) Bunker, Todd Brietzke, and Scott (Jackie) Brietzke; great-grandchildren, Nicholas Scott Brietzke, Chandler Daane Bunker, Karlee Lynn Bunker, and Rhett Steven Bunker; sisters Ruth Bogner and Veronica (Robert) Pochyla; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Valeria Maleckas.
Any memorial may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project, Amvets, Hospice of Michigan, Peace Lutheran Church, Our Savior Lutheran Church or charity of choice.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday April 20 at Oak Grove Funeral Home with Pastor John Hansen officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for visitation on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Final interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery at a later date.
Published in the Ludington Daily News.
During Frank's career as a navigator he was a member of four crews and the sole survivor of two bomber crashes. One of Frank's proudest achievements was his completion of "One 11 Millionth of a War" where he recounts his experiences which included his 45 hours in the Pacific Ocean and the six weeks prior to his rescue living with the natives on the island of Choiseul. Frank was a recipient of the Purple Heart.
Frank married the love of his life, Helen Olga Martinchek, on March 15, 1944, in Custer, during a 30-day sick leave from a military hospital in Temple, Texas. After a brief return to the Temple hospital, promotion to Captain and Navigator Student Flight Instructor, and a period as a navigator instructor; he was discharged from the service in July 1945. Frank, Helen and newborn son Aldon moved to Frankfort, where he began teaching mathematics and science in the Frankfort Public Schools. Frank and family, which now included daughter Janet, moved back to Scottville in 1955 where Frank began teaching in the Mason County Central School System. He retired in 1980 after a total of 35 years of active teaching. While in Frankfort he had joined an active Air Force Reserve Unit. After 23 years of active and reserve military duty, he retired in 1968 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Frank's numerous interests and hobbies encompassed photography which included taking photographs for family, professional photographers, and the Mason County Central School Annual; painting; shipbuilding; and building a Frank Lloyd Wright home north of Scottville. After retiring from teaching he completed a 9 foot stick-built replica of the USS Constitution that he had started while still in high school. He continued shipbuilding by completing a 10 foot model of the USS Missouri and 12 foot Vietnam version of the USS Iowa. The USS Constitution remains in the family while the USS Missouri and USS Iowa have been donated to the Michigan's Own Military and Space Museum in Frankenmuth. There is an exhibit dedicated to Frank which includes his book, model ships, and military memorabilia. Frank was a member of the VFW, Amvets, American Legion, and MARSP.
Frank was a dedicated and loving husband, father, and educator. He was affectionately known by many of his students as "Master". He greatly enjoyed the many students who kept in contact with him over the years. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him.
Frank is survived by Helen, his wife of 69 years; son Aldon (Linda) Maleckas, daughter Janet (Robert) Brietzke; grandchildren Chandra (Brett) Bunker, Todd Brietzke, and Scott (Jackie) Brietzke; great-grandchildren, Nicholas Scott Brietzke, Chandler Daane Bunker, Karlee Lynn Bunker, and Rhett Steven Bunker; sisters Ruth Bogner and Veronica (Robert) Pochyla; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Valeria Maleckas.
Any memorial may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project, Amvets, Hospice of Michigan, Peace Lutheran Church, Our Savior Lutheran Church or charity of choice.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday April 20 at Oak Grove Funeral Home with Pastor John Hansen officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for visitation on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Final interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery at a later date.
Published in the Ludington Daily News.
Frank Maleckas Jr., peacefully passed away March 20 at his home in Ludington. Frank was born Nov. 26, 1916, in Niagara Falls, New York, to Frank and Valeria (Matevich) Maleckas. He graduated from Custer High School with the class of 1936 and continued his education at Western Michigan University graduating with a bachelors of science in education. In 1941, responding to Uncle Sam's draft call, he became a member of the 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division, Company M of the U.S. Army National Guard with an original service commitment of one year. After the attack on Pearl Harbor he transferred to the Army Air Corps, received a commission as a Second Lieutenant, and became a navigator on a B24 bomber with the 13th Air Force in the South Pacific.
During Frank's career as a navigator he was a member of four crews and the sole survivor of two bomber crashes. One of Frank's proudest achievements was his completion of "One 11 Millionth of a War" where he recounts his experiences which included his 45 hours in the Pacific Ocean and the six weeks prior to his rescue living with the natives on the island of Choiseul. Frank was a recipient of the Purple Heart.
Frank married the love of his life, Helen Olga Martinchek, on March 15, 1944, in Custer, during a 30-day sick leave from a military hospital in Temple, Texas. After a brief return to the Temple hospital, promotion to Captain and Navigator Student Flight Instructor, and a period as a navigator instructor; he was discharged from the service in July 1945. Frank, Helen and newborn son Aldon moved to Frankfort, where he began teaching mathematics and science in the Frankfort Public Schools. Frank and family, which now included daughter Janet, moved back to Scottville in 1955 where Frank began teaching in the Mason County Central School System. He retired in 1980 after a total of 35 years of active teaching. While in Frankfort he had joined an active Air Force Reserve Unit. After 23 years of active and reserve military duty, he retired in 1968 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Frank's numerous interests and hobbies encompassed photography which included taking photographs for family, professional photographers, and the Mason County Central School Annual; painting; shipbuilding; and building a Frank Lloyd Wright home north of Scottville. After retiring from teaching he completed a 9 foot stick-built replica of the USS Constitution that he had started while still in high school. He continued shipbuilding by completing a 10 foot model of the USS Missouri and 12 foot Vietnam version of the USS Iowa. The USS Constitution remains in the family while the USS Missouri and USS Iowa have been donated to the Michigan's Own Military and Space Museum in Frankenmuth. There is an exhibit dedicated to Frank which includes his book, model ships, and military memorabilia. Frank was a member of the VFW, Amvets, American Legion, and MARSP.
Frank was a dedicated and loving husband, father, and educator. He was affectionately known by many of his students as "Master". He greatly enjoyed the many students who kept in contact with him over the years. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him.
Frank is survived by Helen, his wife of 69 years; son Aldon (Linda) Maleckas, daughter Janet (Robert) Brietzke; grandchildren Chandra (Brett) Bunker, Todd Brietzke, and Scott (Jackie) Brietzke; great-grandchildren, Nicholas Scott Brietzke, Chandler Daane Bunker, Karlee Lynn Bunker, and Rhett Steven Bunker; sisters Ruth Bogner and Veronica (Robert) Pochyla; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Valeria Maleckas.
Any memorial may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project, Amvets, Hospice of Michigan, Peace Lutheran Church, Our Savior Lutheran Church or charity of choice.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday April 20 at Oak Grove Funeral Home with Pastor John Hansen officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for visitation on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Final interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery at a later date.
Published in the Ludington Daily News.
During Frank's career as a navigator he was a member of four crews and the sole survivor of two bomber crashes. One of Frank's proudest achievements was his completion of "One 11 Millionth of a War" where he recounts his experiences which included his 45 hours in the Pacific Ocean and the six weeks prior to his rescue living with the natives on the island of Choiseul. Frank was a recipient of the Purple Heart.
Frank married the love of his life, Helen Olga Martinchek, on March 15, 1944, in Custer, during a 30-day sick leave from a military hospital in Temple, Texas. After a brief return to the Temple hospital, promotion to Captain and Navigator Student Flight Instructor, and a period as a navigator instructor; he was discharged from the service in July 1945. Frank, Helen and newborn son Aldon moved to Frankfort, where he began teaching mathematics and science in the Frankfort Public Schools. Frank and family, which now included daughter Janet, moved back to Scottville in 1955 where Frank began teaching in the Mason County Central School System. He retired in 1980 after a total of 35 years of active teaching. While in Frankfort he had joined an active Air Force Reserve Unit. After 23 years of active and reserve military duty, he retired in 1968 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Frank's numerous interests and hobbies encompassed photography which included taking photographs for family, professional photographers, and the Mason County Central School Annual; painting; shipbuilding; and building a Frank Lloyd Wright home north of Scottville. After retiring from teaching he completed a 9 foot stick-built replica of the USS Constitution that he had started while still in high school. He continued shipbuilding by completing a 10 foot model of the USS Missouri and 12 foot Vietnam version of the USS Iowa. The USS Constitution remains in the family while the USS Missouri and USS Iowa have been donated to the Michigan's Own Military and Space Museum in Frankenmuth. There is an exhibit dedicated to Frank which includes his book, model ships, and military memorabilia. Frank was a member of the VFW, Amvets, American Legion, and MARSP.
Frank was a dedicated and loving husband, father, and educator. He was affectionately known by many of his students as "Master". He greatly enjoyed the many students who kept in contact with him over the years. He will be greatly missed by those who knew him.
Frank is survived by Helen, his wife of 69 years; son Aldon (Linda) Maleckas, daughter Janet (Robert) Brietzke; grandchildren Chandra (Brett) Bunker, Todd Brietzke, and Scott (Jackie) Brietzke; great-grandchildren, Nicholas Scott Brietzke, Chandler Daane Bunker, Karlee Lynn Bunker, and Rhett Steven Bunker; sisters Ruth Bogner and Veronica (Robert) Pochyla; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Valeria Maleckas.
Any memorial may be directed to the Wounded Warrior Project, Amvets, Hospice of Michigan, Peace Lutheran Church, Our Savior Lutheran Church or charity of choice.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday April 20 at Oak Grove Funeral Home with Pastor John Hansen officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for visitation on Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Final interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery at a later date.
Published in the Ludington Daily News.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
