Annette M. Malaker, 88, of Marengo, IL, passed away on Saturday, January 4, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on January 15, 1936, in Chicago, IL, to Peter and Marie (Cada) Jacobsen, Annette grew up on 50th and California in Chicago. Her childhood was spent in a bustling home, where she lived kitty-corner to her lifelong best friend, Joyce (Lilja) Kawa. Her family moved to Beecher, Illinois in 1946.
While still in high school in Beecher, her parents “dragged her” up to Marengo to look at another farm, an act they had been carrying out for months, driving her miles away from her home chasing their dream. Her dad Pete smoked in the ‘48 Hudson, her in the back seat, irritated to be away from the high school orbit. When viewing the Marengo farm property, knowing Annette was always reluctant to leave her hometown, her parents were curious, and likely nervous. Pete liked the buildings, Annette liked the house, it was likely Marie keeping the peace, so when Marie asked Annette what she thought – Annette said “buy it”. And so they did. It was 1953 and the beginning of the rest of her life.
Annette graduated Summa Cum Laude from the College of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois in 1958. She married Don in August 1959, on what they both claimed to be the hottest day of that year, and perhaps ever. Annette would speak of the cooked rice in her wedding dress into her 80s, and their honeymoon trip they managed to enjoy without the Traveler’s Cheques Don left behind. Following marriage, they packed up their ‘54 Ford and moved to South Bend, Indiana. She got a job teaching in Mishawaka, while Don studied for his PhD in physics at Notre Dame. Annette managed a first grade classroom by day, and copy edited drafts of Don’s dissertation in the evenings. They lived next door to the Fischers – a couple they counted as lifelong friends. They welcomed sons Clay in 1960 and Eric 1961 in South Bend, before moving home to Marengo.
Now settled in Marengo on Harmony Hills Farm, they welcomed three more children to attain their “full house”. With two daughters, Lea and Kristin, and another son, Colin. There was much life and love that played out on the backdrop of the hopeful and provincial Midwest American landscape in the mid-20th century. While the country began the Cold War, had its Camelot Era, the Space Race, the Vietnam War, and then the new gilded age of the 80s, the Malaker family had first communions, little league, honor roll, scouts of all kinds, (Eagle, Girl, Cub, and Boy), farm chores, broken bones, sprained ankles, missed honor rolls, and family challenges. This full house went on to build families, careers and legacies of their own, with a multitude of thanks to the investment of their Matriarch.
Annette had a gifted mind, and was an excellent teacher. Many recall her, most loved her, some still fear her. During her career, she taught in Mishawaka, Indiana, Huntley and Marengo, Illinois. She retired from teaching in order to manage the Harmony Hills Farm. A role she then passed on to Lea and Bill Damisch, who now helm it with Seth and Amanda Damisch. Under her watchful eye and instruction, of course.
While she worked hard, and cultivated a family that shared that ethic, Annette reaped the fruits of her labor. The Malakers attained property in Port St. Joe, Florida in 1979, and took on yet another family project – building a beach house. They began in 1979, completing in 1984, ushering in a lovely era of her life, where she enjoyed her vacation property with her husband, friends and family. Having braved many hurricanes - both Malaker and natural - the house still stands.
Annette loved her family, but she also deeply loved her animals. She cultivated a lifelong love of dogs, having a range of breeds, including Rat Terriers, Collies, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, and English Mastiffs. She even tried her hand at breeding Collies for a time. All who knew her greeted the four-legged mammals as family. Skol, Magnus, Dr. Spock, Cindy, Minnie and Mickey, Katie, and Big Easy, were people too, in the world according to Annette.
While loyal to a point, Annette definitely shouted “Go Pack Go” all season long while the Illinois surrounding her tried valiantly to drown her out with “Bear Down, Chicago Bears”. Her cousin Ken Bowman played for the Packers, and secured her loyalty for life. Annette’s football alliances were a talisman for her character; somewhat enigmatic until examined, then understood. Packers on Sundays, and the Fighting Irish on Saturdays, and that was the way it was and shall be. Pour yourself a drink and sit down, but don’t expect any sympathy when her team trounces their opponent.
One of the best elements of Annette was her ability to write, read, and speak, and do so with aplomb. Even those who disagreed with her, acknowledged her with respect. When asked by grandchildren why she liked Grandpa, (or “Grr Grr” to the great-grands) and married him, she would always say that “he was a good dancer”, but a close examination always revealed the truth. Yes he was, and remains, a good dancer, but the legacy is that he could keep up. He, with her, and she, him.
Annette was a reader, a thinker, and a character in her own story. She cultivated an experience for all who knew her, and maintained a stubborn grace until the very end. As a wife, a mother to 5, a grandmother to 14, a great-grandmother to 15, she was much to many, and left an imprint on each.
From a one-room school, to a life filled with people who recall her, credit her, were mothered and grand-mothered by her, and singularly, love her. A girl from Beecher should be so lucky.
Survived by her husband Donald, son Clayton (Dawn) Malaker, daughter-in-law, Joanna Malaker, daughters Lea (William) Damisch, and Kristen (Todd) Oliver, and son, Colin (Molly) Malaker; by her beloved grandchildren, Peter Malaker, Matthew Malaker, Michal Sienkiewicz, Amanda Damisch, Maggie Spring, Hallie Meagher, Seth Damisch, Caprisha Dorris, Robert Damisch, Shawney Damisch, Erin Oliver, Ava Oliver, Louis Malaker and Augustine Malaker; and her great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Adelaide, Isaac, Charlotte, and Judah Spring, Georgina, McKelvey, Josephine, Henry, and Vivian Meagher, Jeremiah, Valentine, and Emery Damisch, Johnny Dorris, and Jasia Sienkiewicz.
She is preceded in death by her son, Eric and her parents.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025 from 5-8 pm at DeFiore Funeral Home, Huntley. A Second visitation will be held Saturday, January 11, 2025 9:00-10:00 am with a Mass being celebrated at 10am St Mary’s Catholic Church, Huntley, IL . Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery.
For further information please contact DeFiore Funeral Home at 847-515-8772 or online condolences may be directed to www.defiorefuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Judes Childrens Hospital.
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At 9 years old she was my favorite teacher in Huntley I was crushed when she dumped me But myself and a few of her students were invited to the wedding I did not know she lived in the area until many years later when her granddaughters husband worked at my house I exposed my childhood crush Memories!!! My sincerest condolences
We became neighbors and friends in South Bend. IN in 1961. We treasure our memories of the times we and our families spent together through the years. Annette was a smart and loving person and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.