Bobby Lee "Bob" Malek

       Bobby Lee “Bob” Malek, age 74, passed away on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at Sparrow Health Systems, Lansing, Michigan.

       Cremation has taken place.  A private family memorial will take place at a later date.

      Bob was born in St. Johns, Michigan, on January 7, 1949, the son of Charles and Anna (Havelka) Malek.  Bob attended Dagget Country School and graduated from Ashley High School, with the class of 1967.  While in high school, he was active in Future Farmers of America and obtained his state degree of which he was very proud of. On May 24, 1969, he married Kendra Kindel, at the Ashley United Methodist Church, Ashley, Michigan.     

      He retired from Dana Corporation in 2000, and continued his passion of farming until the time of his passing.  His love of farming started at an early as he grew up on the family farm in Ashley, MI.  We regret he couldn’t see it become a centennial farm in 2026.  He enjoyed, as a teenager, his business of raising chickens and selling eggs.  He still had a small flock and visited them many times a day.  Bob loved taking walks down the lane around the fields, doing crop inspections.  When he had a dog she always went with him.  He spent many hours on his bike, with the ever present shovel, cutting out weeds, which had escaped the sprayer or cultivator.

     He was an avid watch of the weather watching to see if the predicted rain was coming or going.  He was a very conscientious farmer and always tried to do things right.  He could barely tolerate crooked rows and furrows.  Bob was a lifetime member of the ZCBJ Lodge in Bannister, MI.  He was very proud of his Czechoslovakian heritage.  He loved polka music and for a time danced with his wife in the lodge dance group.

    Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.  He was always ready to lend a helping hand to whoever in the family needed it – be it baling, bringing wagons to the field, combining, trucking, plumbing jobs, fixing bikes, and working on the ever present honey-to-do list.

     He is survived by his wife Kendra Malek; daughter Erin (Robert) Russell; son Brandon Malek; and son Brian Malek; his grandchildren:  Kevin (Alicia), Dustin, Cassie, Kyle, Ethan, Grant (fiancée Kenzie Graham), and Gavin; and great-grandchildren: Layla Russell, Cameron Birdsley, Leo Russell, and Riley Russell.  He is also survived by the mother of his four grandsons Shelly Hart; sister Sally (John) Stoll;  sisters-in-law: Ruth Malek, Judy Cramer, Wendy Kindel, and brother-in-law Chris (Rhonda) Kindel; and many nieces, nephews, left to treasure his memory.  He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Anna Malek, parents-in-law Fred and Anita Kindel, brothers: Jerry Malek, Joe Malek; infant brother Charles Malek, infant sister Mary Ann Malek, and brother-in-law Nick Kindel.

    We thank God for giving us all the chance to live, learn, and to be loved by Bob. 

     Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.  The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, Michigan.