Judith Lange Malish

Judith (Judy) Marie Lange Malish, age 83 completed her call here on earth and went to her eternal home on January 27th, 2023 after her courageous & strong fight with Alzheimer’s.  

Judy was born to Willie & Alma Zieschang Lange at Wedemeyer Hospital in Taylor, TX on October 17th 1939.  

She was a lifetime member of Christ Lutheran Church Noack, where she was baptized, confirmed and married. As well Sunday School teacher and Superintendent. 

Judy loved the Lord, her service was to the church she loved, as she brought her kids all up with the same love of Christ passed on through to her from her paternal & maternal ancestry roots of Lange’s & Zieschang’s. 

After she was confirmed,  she remained active in the church until she no longer could. As long as Judy could walk, she was at that little white church on the hill. She made sure Elton got her there, so she could teach, and be Superintendent when she could no longer drive. As she continued in her decline, after Elton passed, and she no longer knew it was Sundays, it then became time her children made sure she was in church, and they did that as long as she was able to get into a car, just as she did for them when they were young. 

Judy was a Homemaker, a Queen to her Elton King, a wonderful mom who made family very important, a beloved grandma they called Nenaw. All them were familiar with the fly swatter, maybe except the last few grandchildren. Judy’s house was everyone’s home, they could eat if you were around when it was breakfast, lunch or supper. Saturday’s were Golden Fried Chicken Day and Sunday evenings were sand volleyball at Malish Lake.  She had her net, ball ready at all times and about 3 o’clock Sunday afternoons that landline start ringing, by 4 all were showing up who wanted to play and ones that didn’t they still came to hang out watching the others play, while the younger kids enjoyed sliding down the hill with a cardboard boxes including Judy’s nieces, nephews, her friends & her kids friends, all you had to do is show up draw sticks and get ready for an evening of fun times. There was always food afterwards and of course sweet tea. 

Judys place was her home where her children, her grandchildren, great- grandchildren, her brothers & sisters, in-laws, her nieces, nephews, even great ones too, as well as the neighbor kids thrived. Her name was special, not only was she mom to her children, in many ways she was their mom to, their Nenaw and their Aunt, their friend. 

We can’t forget her Fridays. It was hair day with her niece Marilyn. Rain or shine she was getting it done. Then off she was all set as beautiful as could be to have lunch with Elton at the shop. Then off from there to H‑E‑B to buy groceries so she could start cooking on Saturday and get up early to finish that Sunday meal on Sundays, to make it at 9 to the Sunday School for the children. The rest of the week if you needed breakfast, lunch or supper, she had it. 

Judy enjoyed going out to eat on Saturday nights to Dodge City Steak House & Cattlemen’s Steak House after the closing of Zieschang’s Bar & Cafe. Judy loved her Longhorns. Each day Elton would take their drive to the country looking at the crops and checking the cows. You’d find a grand kid or two with them in that blue ford truck or silver Lincoln. They enjoyed just sitting in the woods watching for deer in the truck, and just driving around looking at their crops of corn & cotton, checking on the hay baling,  harvesting, as well as bringing food to the field. 

 Judy enjoyed going East to Sam’s Town with Elton, with her friends from the church and her children and grandchildren.   Vegas was her first air flight, that set off these trips East. She went to many a Austin, San Antonio & Houston Stock Show, as well Oklahoma  where Elton set up and show Hay King Equipment and her family and friends join them as well, and made many a memory of getting to see various country artist. 

Judy go with Elton to Vermeer Dealership Conventions, where she had fun times of seeing other places including Monterey, Mexico and Elvis Presley Museum. She even got Elton to venture out to see his brother Gilbert & Bonita in Alabama and her nieces & nephews there. They recently shared  “She knew she was loved . . . So many sweet memories of good food and fun summers in Texas! I can hear her long southern Texas drawl calling to someone to 'get in here!' I always thought what patience and calmness she always had in every situation. She was a great mom and aunt!!!”

Judy loved Thrall School, was a 1958 graduate, proud to be a Tiger, and proud of the generations that followed of her kids, grandkids, graduating, as well as one Coaching there today.  She was in the Pep Squad, making noise for her # 50, enjoyed Homemaking Class. She played Volleyball, Basketball, and in 1957 her team was District Champs. She played Softball as well, was still playing softball after her kids graduated high school in area women’s teams, her church team and you can bet Judy was the pitcher. 

Judy was proud to be a 1958 graduate, her purple and white ran deep and who’d ever know to follow be 25 graduates in her own family. You could find Judy with Elton Friday nights at home games at the North end of football field in her last years. 

Traditions we’re important to Judy, not only with the church and the school, ones she instilled into her children of going to church on Sundays,  Sunday mealtime, Thanksgiving with Turkey & dressing and ham, Christmas Eve church and the Christmas Program, then onto her home for food, gifts, games, and Fireworks as well as Santa’s arrival! Easter lunch was Turkey & Ham and Easter baskets for the kids each with a Spring outfit, then the Easter Egg Hunt. 

Mom your work is finished here. Now go rest high, until we meet again. 

Judy was preceded in death by her parents Willie and Alma Lange; her husband Elton Malish; one son Elton Kris Malish, mother-in-law Ruby Leshikar Malish, her brothers Marvin Lange, and Glenn Lange. Her sisters Edna Schwenke, Alice Joyce Stolle & Gerdie Falk.  One son-in-law, Kevin Rohlack.  

Judy is survived by her six children. Sons Douglas Malish & wife Sheri.  Darrell Malish & wife Betty, Kerry Malish & wife Lesley, daughters Cheryl Barron & husband Jeff, Roxanne Patschke & husband Darrell, Michelle Olsen & husband Rick. Her grandchildren Misty Pavlicek (Shane), Keith Rohlack (Angela), Kristina Malish, Matthew Malish, Danielle Kollman, Kassie Bolton, Kacy Malish (her fiancé Casey Krampitz) Mallory Keeling (Chad) Kourtney Jenke (Shane), Memorie Shannon (Tyler), Maranda Cummings (Jared) Rachael Malish (her fiancé Peyton Reagan) Kelton Malish, Destine Malish, Nahum Patschke, Jacob Barron, Rochelle Malish, Faith Patschke, great-grandchildren Brodie Connell, Haddie Rohlack, Ryen Malish, Micah Rohlack, Caleb Keeling, Greyson Pavlicek, Selah Rohlack, Benjamin Keeling, Hayden Bolton, Katelynn Cummings, Kinslee Cummings, Kyle Shannon, Kolter Jenke, and Charlotte Reagan.  Sister-in-law Bonita Malish and lots of nephews & nieces. 

Serving as pallbearers are Judy’s grandsons Keith Rohlack, Matthew Malish, Kelton Malish, Nahum Patschke, Jacob Barron. Great-grandsons Brodie Connell, Micah Rohlack, Greyson Pavlicek, Kyle Shannon, KolterJenke. 

Funeral will be held at Providence Funeral Home Monday, February 6th at 10 AM with Pastor Paul Howe officiating.  Burial will at the Taylor City Cemetary. All are invited & welcomed to visit with family & friends following with a noon meal being served at the Taylor SPJST Lodge Hall, located at 5025 FM 619 Taylor.  

In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to Christ Lutheran Church 6730 FM 112 Taylor, Tx. 76574.  Or Doggies for Dementia. 

The family would like to say thank you to the staff that help guide & care for mom from Austin Hospice the last nine months & her private caregivers Bernice Cesarez, Crystal Coward, Henna McNeil, Kim Garcia & Linda Quintinalla for their care and companionship they gave mom the final days of her life. As well to Bonnie Kaderka for her time as caregiver/organizer early on. To Pastor Paul Howe & Mrs. Howe for their visits to her home the last year and half and Pastor Donald Kasper for his prayers and support. To Judy’s niece Marilyn Frock, a heartfelt thanks for taking care of moms hair all these years to the end. To Justin Stolle her nephew, our sincerest appreciation for doing her ceiling for her as well as helping with her walk in bath. 

To all who made a difference in Judy’s life, we thank you from the bottom of ours, this will never be forgotten, and will remain forever in our hearts.