John Malikie

John Paul Malikie, 84, of Missoula, Montana passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 20, 2025, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Walter and Marie (Klonder) Malikie on October 16, 1940. As a young boy, John attended Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Grade School. During that time, he contracted tuberculosis from his mother and spent sixteen months in a sanitarium. Tragically, his mother passed away from the illness. His father died when John was just seventeen, shaping his resilience from a young age.

John attended Lane Tech High School, where he studied technical skills with the dream of becoming an electrical engineer. He briefly attended the Illinois Institute of Technology before meeting the love of his life, Lois Jean Spriet. After two and a half years of courtship—spent on her family farm, showing livestock together at fairs and building a life rooted in love—they married on September 17, 1960, in St. Charles, Illinois. Over the next six years, they welcomed three sons: John Paul II, Michael Allen and Thomas Robert.

In 1969, John and Lois moved their family to Missoula, MT, where John began working at the

United States Post Office. Over the years, he held many positions, retiring in 2000 as an Electronic Technician. John’s passions extended far beyond his career. He was an active member of the Mineral Society, the Missoula Stamp Club and the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association.

With Lois by his side, they traveled extensively in their motor home, exploring all fifty states (Hawaii being one of their favorites), nearly every Canadian province, and even venturing to Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas and Mexico. Of all the places they visited, Yellowstone National Park remained

their favorite.

A devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, John cherished time with his family. He loved working on cars, attending music festivals, chaperoning band trips, playing cards and always lending a hand wherever he was needed. John is survived by his wife, Lois of Missoula; his three sons and their families: John II (Lori) Malikie of Gresham, OR, Michael (Terry) Malikie of Missoula, MT, and Thomas (Nancy) Malikie of Missoula, MT; along with seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and eight step-great-grandchildren.

An open-casket viewing will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025, at Garden City Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m., followed by a closed-casket service at 11:30 a.m. A reception will take place from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens at 3:00 p.m.

Pallbearers: Scott Malikie, Zeb Jessop, Chris Line, Todd Henry, David Cadena & Danny Deutschman