Geraldine M. Malak

Geraldine M. Malak, age 83, of Middleton and formerly of Beaver Dam, died on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at UW Hospital in Madison. There will be a visitation at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, 311 South Spring St. in Beaver Dam, on Friday, November 6, 2015 from 10:30 a.m. until 11:20 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at the church on Friday at 11:30 a.m. with Fr. Michael J. Erwin officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter Catholic Cemetery in Beaver Dam. Geraldine Mary Malak was born on November 5, 1931 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin to John and Cecelia (Froehlich) Malak. She was raised in the family home on South Center Street in Beaver Dam and attended St. Peter’s School and Beaver Dam High School, graduating in 1949. Geraldine earned her teacher’s certificate from Columbia County Normal and furthered her education with a B.S. Degree from Edgewood College. Throughout the years, she went on to earn a M.S. Degree from the University of Wisconsin. She continued her education at the University of Colorado, Boston University, and San Francisco State College. Education was very important to Geraldine and it was something she stressed to the many students she taught. Over 38 years she taught at Lowell State Graded School, Shorewood Hills, and Van Hise Middle School in Madison. After her retirement, she taught English as a Second Language in Madison. Geraldine enjoyed her weekends visiting her parent’s home on Oneida Street in Beaver Dam and also reading, music, and traveling. She was a former member of St. Katharine Drexel Parish and a current member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church as well as the Wisconsin Alumni Association. Survivors are sister, Constance Malak of Middleton; nephew, Jeffrey (Sheila Felicijan) Beers; grandnieces, Roxanne Beers and Rachel Beers; several other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, John, in infancy, and Alfred; and sister, June. If desired, memorials may made in Geraldine Malak’s name to the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, 517 N. Segoe Rd. Madison, WI 53705, St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Parish, 408 S. Spring St., Beaver Dam, WI 53916, or to St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, PO Box 620187, Middleton, WI 53562. The Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is caring for the family. To leave online condolences, or for directions and other information, please visit our website at www.KoepsellFH.com.