Funeral services for Ralph E. Malakowsky will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Peter Lutheran Church in New Richland. The Rev. Scott Williams will officiate. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. prior to the service at church. Interment will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Freeborn Cemetery.

Ralph E. Malakowsky died Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, at his home near Hartland. He was 75.

Ralph was born Jan. 12, 1943, in Albert Lea to parents Carl and Irene (Syring) Malakowsky. He was raised in Minnesota Lake and then moved to the Hartland/Freeborn area. Ralph graduated from Freeborn High School, where he played football and basketball.

On Dec. 21, 1963, he married Mary Kay Hoogenraad in Minnesota Lake. Together they raised their children near Hartland. The Malakowsky family became members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in New Richland.

Ralph enjoyed teaching Sunday school, serving on the  church council and being a deacon.

Ralph started milking dairy cows when he was 4 or 5 years old and continued to be a dairy farmer until the day he died. Throughout the years Ralph was involved with various agricultural organizations including 4-H, FFA and the Creamery Board. 

In his free time Ralph enjoyed fishing, hunting and vegetable gardening. He especially enjoyed growing and sharing his tomatoes and watermelon with neighbors and friends.

Ralph loved to attend farm auctions. He was an avid collector and enjoyed his coin and comic book collections. 

Ralph loved to help everyone and had a heart of gold. He truly lived life the way he loved and made the best of each day. Heaven better hold on tight while he makes his entrance: he’s a Bucky one! 

Survivors include his wife, Mary Kay; children Nancy (Steve) Grosland, Forrest (Sharon) Malakowsky, David (Amanda) Malakowsky and Matt Malakowsky; daughter/granddaughter, Ashley (Sean) Casey; grandchildren Patty (Kevin) Rodel, Jeimmy (Matt) Cooling, Judi Grosland, Bryan Grosland, Heather (Josh) Tonkin, Melissa Malakowsky, Jason Malakowsky, and Tiara, Tylar, Dacoda and Dylan Malakowsky; great-grandchildren Peyton, Sean Jr., Anastyn and Jude; brothers-in-law Johannes (Chris) Hoogenraad, Karel (Mary) Hoogenraad and Theodore (Delphine) Hoogenraad; and sisters-in-law Carolina (Keith) Stern and Elaine Malakowsky.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Shelly Malakowsky; grandson, Derek Malakowsky; his parents Carl and Irene Malakowsky; parents-in-law Aernout and Adriana Hoogenraad; brother, Charles Malakowsky; and brothers-in-law Gerrit and Adrianus Hoogenraad.