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‘Gene’ Malir

Mass of Christian Burial for Eugene D. “Gene” Malir, 91, Wilson, who passed away March 26, 2023, at Ellsworth County Medical Center in Ellsworth, will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 30, 2023, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilson.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. today until a vigil and rosary at 7 p.m. at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Wilson.

Gene was born Jan. 9, 1932, at Ellsworth Hospital to Edward and Mary (Krupp) Malir. He was a lifelong farmer in Noble Township, living only a mile from where he grew up on land homesteaded in 1880.

He attended Pleasant Hill County School for eight years and graduated from Wilson High School in 1949.

He attended Benedictine College and received a two-year agricultural degree from Kansas State University.

He met Fran Mastek, a teacher at Wilson High School, and they were married July 19, 1956, in Tampa.

Two children were born to their union, and he loved raising them and being involved in their activities.

Over the years, Gene loved being a farmer and stockman, learning to drive his father’s new John Deere Model B tractor at age 6 and raising crops and cattle in addition to being a dealer for seed companies.

His faith was very important to him; he was a lifelong member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and served on the church council several times as well as on numerous committees.

He was a life member of Kansas Czechs and Wilson Knights of Columbus and past grand knight of the Msgr. John Maher Assembly 4th Degree Knights of Columbus in Salina.

He served on the Noble Township board and Ellsworth County conservation board and helped organize the Wilson Winners 4-H Club, serving as a leader and community volunteer.

He enjoyed playing poker with friends and belonged to a couples pitch club.

Baseball was his favorite sport; he played town-team ball for Blackwolf and Wilson.

An avid football fan of the Kansas State Wildcats, he spent many Saturdays attending home games until his health declined.

He watched and cheered on the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs.

Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Fran; parents, Ed and Mary; sister, Marilyn Mattas; and sister-in-law, Joan Malir.

On Sept. 10, 2004, Gene married Alice (Doubrava) Macek at St. Wenceslaus Church.

They enjoyed family gatherings, attending polka dances, traveling, and having lunch at Wilson Senior Center with friends. He especially enjoyed the music of Barefoot Becky and the Mollie B Polka Show.

Gene took seriously the charge of God to take care of the earth and all that is in it and to leave the land better than he found it.

With strong faith and abiding hope, he worked hard, loved greatly, and now rests from his labors. He will be remembered in love.

Survivors include his wife, Alice; son Rick and wife Bonnie of Dublin, Ohio; daughter Nancy of Alexandria, Virginia; stepson Jerry Macek and wife Sandy Sanders of Wilson; stepdaughter Ramona Macek and wife Kathy Osborne of Topeka; step-grandchildren Joe Macek, Amber Kepka (and husband Corry), Josh Pekar (and wife Laurie), and Courney Smith (and husband Ryan); seven step-great-grandchildren; brother Ken of Salina; brother-in-law Richard Mattas of Mt. Vernon, Missouri; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Memorials are suggested to Smoky Hills Community Foundation for the Eugene D. Malir Fund or Wilson Senior Center and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, PO Box 533, Wilson KS 67490.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com.

Last modified March 30, 2023

 

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