1920
John
2012
John J. Malnar
March 7, 1920 — February 22, 2012
John Joseph Malnar, beloved brother, uncle, and friend entered into eternal rest on February 22, 2012 in San Pedro, California.
Born in Ahmeek, Michigan, March 7th 1920, John is preceded in death by his parents, Michael Sr. and Ramona; sister, Mary Rollins; brothers, Alex, Emil, and Michael Jr. John leaves one surviving brother, Louis of Torrance, nieces, Anna Marie Ward and Lynn Caddy, nephews, David Michael Malnar, Alan Joseph Malnar and Don Rollins, in-laws, and friends who will greatly miss his love, laughter, and monumental presence in their lives.
John was a likeable and charismatic guy. Friendly with everyone he met, he lived a long and colorful life. As a young boy, he hopped rides on the Winnipeg Flyer during the early Depression, and shocked wheat in Hallock, Minnesota for five dollars and five meals per day. Wrapped in newspaper for the cold hitch home, he'd return to his parents in Springfield, Illinois with his payload hidden in his shoes.
John served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was assigned for three years to the Aleutian Islands, the "Land of the Forgotten Soldier." There he participated in action against the enemy forces, was a cook, and received an honorable discharge. After the army, John became a commercial fisherman, working the purse seiners out of San Pedro, traveling the coast from Alaska to Costa Rica. Eventually, he became a member of ILWU 13 and worked for many years as a longshoreman on the docks of the Los Angeles Harbor, where he was greatly respected and admired by his co-workers, until his retirement in the 1970s. While working as a stevedore, John also practiced wild-game farming. With his brother, Louis, he raised pheasants and quail and other various poultries. An exceptional cook, John possessed the instinctive ability to concoct tasty Croatian and Italian dishes without recipe. He was a music aficionado and loved to dance in his earlier years, particularly to jazz and blues. He followed the big-band sounds of Louie Jordon and others who frequented the Los Angeles jump blues scene during the mid-20th century.
In his later years, John lived a decade in Las Vegas, near his brothers Emil and Mike Jr. An avid hunter and trout fisherman, he loved to relax with family and friends in his summertime cabin located on the Gunnison River in Colorado. He enjoyed watching boxing on television, cooking shows, wildlife programs, and listening to the evening news. Most of all he loved his family, and his company in their lives will never be forgotten.
Graveside services will be held at Green Hills Cemetery on March 10, 2012 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Dalmatian American Club Scholarship Fund, located at 1639 South Palos Verdes Street, San Pedro, California, 90731.
Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275
Born in Ahmeek, Michigan, March 7th 1920, John is preceded in death by his parents, Michael Sr. and Ramona; sister, Mary Rollins; brothers, Alex, Emil, and Michael Jr. John leaves one surviving brother, Louis of Torrance, nieces, Anna Marie Ward and Lynn Caddy, nephews, David Michael Malnar, Alan Joseph Malnar and Don Rollins, in-laws, and friends who will greatly miss his love, laughter, and monumental presence in their lives.
John was a likeable and charismatic guy. Friendly with everyone he met, he lived a long and colorful life. As a young boy, he hopped rides on the Winnipeg Flyer during the early Depression, and shocked wheat in Hallock, Minnesota for five dollars and five meals per day. Wrapped in newspaper for the cold hitch home, he'd return to his parents in Springfield, Illinois with his payload hidden in his shoes.
John served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was assigned for three years to the Aleutian Islands, the "Land of the Forgotten Soldier." There he participated in action against the enemy forces, was a cook, and received an honorable discharge. After the army, John became a commercial fisherman, working the purse seiners out of San Pedro, traveling the coast from Alaska to Costa Rica. Eventually, he became a member of ILWU 13 and worked for many years as a longshoreman on the docks of the Los Angeles Harbor, where he was greatly respected and admired by his co-workers, until his retirement in the 1970s. While working as a stevedore, John also practiced wild-game farming. With his brother, Louis, he raised pheasants and quail and other various poultries. An exceptional cook, John possessed the instinctive ability to concoct tasty Croatian and Italian dishes without recipe. He was a music aficionado and loved to dance in his earlier years, particularly to jazz and blues. He followed the big-band sounds of Louie Jordon and others who frequented the Los Angeles jump blues scene during the mid-20th century.
In his later years, John lived a decade in Las Vegas, near his brothers Emil and Mike Jr. An avid hunter and trout fisherman, he loved to relax with family and friends in his summertime cabin located on the Gunnison River in Colorado. He enjoyed watching boxing on television, cooking shows, wildlife programs, and listening to the evening news. Most of all he loved his family, and his company in their lives will never be forgotten.
Graveside services will be held at Green Hills Cemetery on March 10, 2012 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Dalmatian American Club Scholarship Fund, located at 1639 South Palos Verdes Street, San Pedro, California, 90731.
Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John J. Malnar, please visit our flower store.
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