James L Malay

He was born in La Crosse on January 20, 1934, to John P. and Ethel (Ormsby) Malay. He married Patricia M. Halla on May 4, 1957, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse.

Jim attended Aquinas High School for three years before graduating from Logan High School in 1952. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the destroyer, U.S.S. Black, during the Korean War. Following his service in the U.S. Navy, Jim worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad for several years, and then was employed as a Police Officer for the City of La Crosse for 25 years before retiring.

Jim loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, family camping trips as well as vacations at the family cabin near Ashland, Wis. After his retirement, he and Pat also enjoyed several winters in Lake Havasu, Ariz.

Jim is survived by Pat, his wife of nearly 55 years; his eight children and their families, Kathleen Bertolas of Onalaska, and her children, Katrina (Scott) Sobstad and their children, Sophia and Jacob, and Marisa, Tony and Nick Bertolas; James L. (Sandy) Malay, Jr. of Onalaska, and their daughter, Emily Malay; Jeanne Malay of La Crosse and her son, Steve Malay; Linda (Brian) Gilligan of Sherrill, Iowa, and their children, Luke, Anna, Michelle and Sam Gilligan; Ruth (Pete) Heidmann of Encinitas, Cal., and their sons, Hans, Adam, and Mark Heidmann; Dave Malay of Stevens Point, Wis., and his daughter, Whitnie Malay; Ron Malay of La Crosse; and Ryan (Wendy) Malay of Holmen, and their sons, Austin, Brandon, Carson, and Dillon Malay. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one sister, Geraldine Champlin; three brothers, John, Eugene, and Benjamin Malay; and one grandson, Gabriel Gilligan

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 13th, at 10:00 a.m., at St. James the Less Catholic Church in La Crosse. Rev. Robert Schaller will officiate. Burial, with military honors, will follow in the Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse on Thursday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., where a rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m., and at the church on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be directed to Boys Town of Nebraska/Iowa through

www.boystown.org

, or the Casa Hogar Orphanage through St. James Parish.