Paul W. Malaska, 74, of Mansfield, died Thursday, February 12th at Brethren Care Center in Ashland after a battle with cancer and Parkinson’s Disease.
He was born June 25, 1940 in Mansfield and was the son of Leo and Mary (Shack) Malaska. Paul was a United States Air Force veteran, serving as a staff sergeant. Trained in aircraft and missile ground support at Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Ill., he later served at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Marquette, Mich., as part of the NORAD Pine Tree U.S.-Canada line in support of F-101 Voodoo fighters, B-52 bombers and KC-135 in-flight refueling aircraft.
After being honorably discharged, Paul worked for Borg-Warner Corp. as an electrician. He earned associate, active and student status with the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society before earning certification through the group and serving as president of its education committee.
Paul went on to become a plumbing, heating and air conditioning serviceman with the Charles Hoffman Co. He worked there for 28 years before leaving to join Standard Heating and Plumbing, from where he retired in 2002 with 48 years of service in the industry. He was a longtime member of the United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Building Trades Journeymen Local No. 42.
Paul attended St. Peter’s schools from grades 1-10, then graduated from Mansfield Senior High in 1959.
He was a lifetime parishioner of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, dedicating more than 55 years to maintaining the church, parish grounds and buildings through his volunteer efforts. He was a former member of St. Peter’s school board and a longtime member and president of the parish’s property committee. Paul was inducted into the St. Peter’s Hall of Fame in 1998 and honored with the Diocese of Toledo’s Centenary Award for Outstanding Service in 2011. He also volunteered at Resurrection Parish, was a longtime volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America and a committee member for Troop 121, based at St. Peter’s.
Paul is survived by his wife, Joan (Downie) Malaska, whom he married on Oct. 23, 1965; two daughters: Amy Malaska of North Canton, Ohio, and Beth Malaska of Mansfield; a son, David Malaska of Covington, Ky.; a sister, Gertrude (Donald) Steele; an aunt, Helen Pokrczwya of Clarksburg, W.Va.; many nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Virgil and Edward Malaska.
Friends may call at Herlihy-Chambers Funeral Home, 173 Park Avenue West, on Thursday from 3-7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Peter’s Catholic Church with Rev. Gregory Hite officiating. Burial will follow in Mansfield Catholic Cemetery.
A fund has been established in Paul’s name to provide for the ongoing care and maintenance of St. Peter’s buildings and grounds. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Paul Malaska Fund with the Monsignor Edward C. Dunn Foundation for Education, in care of St. Peter’s Parish, 104 W. First St., Mansfield, Ohio 44902.
www.herlihy-chambers.com
