Jaroslav Joe “Jerry” Malik, 71, of Gonzales, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family Wednesday, January 10, 2017. Jerry was born February 27, 1946 in Lavaca County to Isidor Malik, Sr., and Annie Cerney Malik. He married Donna Kay Brzozowski on May 16, 1969 in Gonzales. Jerry was a member of St. James Catholic Church. Jerry was born on a farm in Lavaca County where he and his siblings where responsible for daily chores around the farm along with working the cotton fields, milking the cows and butchering chickens for his momma to cook. If Jerry had any spare time it was spent hunting and fishing the creek, developing his love of the outdoors and living off what nature provided at an early age. Quail and squirrels were never safe when young Jerry took to the fields to hunt. Jerry attended the Wied Country School and St. Mary’s Catholic School and he faithfully served as an altar boy for many Roman Catholic Latin Masses. At the age of 14 Jerry left home and went to work for a ranch in Christine, Texas. He spent long days on horseback riding fences and tending cattle. Jerry also guided deer hunts and trapped and raised Javelina. He moved back to Cheapside to work on a farm and joined the Sundowners band as a drummer and Jerry played with the Texas Hired Hands and Hub City Dutchman as well. He drove a truck hauling cattle and hogs for Mickey Brzozowski and later Stanzel Trucking. Jerry worked as a carpenter for Wayne Spahn and for Bill Colewell. He was a detail oriented carpenter who paid close attention to the quality of his work. In 1983 he went to work for Ehrig Brothers where he worked until there was no breath left in him. Jerry never shied away from work, hard work gave him a sense of accomplishment and felt rewarding. His love of family and especially his grandchildren is the only thing that gave him more satisfaction. He loved to take his children hunting and fishing and teach them things he had learned through the years. Jerry loved to take his grandchildren hunting and one would call him most every Sunday to go fishing. Each and every one of his grandchildren had a unique and special relationship with their Papaw that each, including Jerry cherished. Jerry lived for his family, his doctor told to him to quit smoking or he might not see his granddaughter graduate, Jerry never picked up another cigarette and was sitting in the stands bursting with pride as she walked that stage to receive her diploma. He had umpired little league baseball for eight years and he was fair and wonderful to the children. Jerry raised and trained hunting dogs, predominantly English Pointers and Coon Dogs. Of course the training eventually led him to take them hunting so training dogs was definitely a win-win for Jerry. He lived life with gusto whether at work or play. Jerry had principles that he held firm, never take what is not yours, keep family close and whether you are in the field, driving down the road or sitting in a deer blind, the Lord is but a thought away, patiently and lovingly waiting. He loved to take drives with his family and sneak away to the casino with his wife and shake down the “one armed bandits.” He enjoyed buying scratch off tickets and typically was very lucky. But in the end, as Jerry lay quietly in the hospital, it certainly wasn’t luck, stubbornness or the lavender bathes that kept his heart strong, it was simply his longing to remain with family; it was his love for them that held him in their company far longer than medical experts could predict and only succumbing to a far greater love, the love of his Lord, patiently and lovingly waiting. Jaroslav Joe “Jerry” Malik is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Donna Malik of Gonzales, daughter, Tammy Lynn Zella and her companion David Machart of Shiner, son and daughter-in-law, SFC Darrell Joe Malik, U.S. Army, ret. and Lisa of Shiner, son-in-law, Bryan Zella of Gonzales, sister and Brother-in-law, Georgia and Ed Sladecek of Houston, brother and sister-in-law, Daniel and Carolyn Malik of Shiner, sister-in-law, Sally Malik of Alpine, grandchildren, Sherri Malik, Tiffany Lamprecht (Will), Kyndel Zella and her fiancé Justin DuBose, Morgan Malik, Presleigh Zella and Zoii Zella, great-grandchild, Hunter Wayne Pilat and a great-granddaughter soon to be born, and numerous nieces and nephews. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday, January 12, 2018 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 13, 2018 in St. James Catholic Church with Fr. Paul Raaz officiating. Interment will follow in St. James Cemetery. Pallbearers: Michael Ehrig, Morgan Mills, Will Lamprecht, Travis Flagg, Tyler, LePori, Bryan Zella, Justin DuBose, Justin Pilat and Josh Bustos. Honorary Pallbearers: Sherri, Tiffany, Kyndel, Morgan, P.P., Zoii, Hunter, Tyler Vierig, Maura Garcia and Michaela Garcia. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday in the funeral home before the rosary. Memorials may be made to St. James Catholic Church. Friends may leave their condolences by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.

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