Dr. Patrick M. Malone

Dr. Patrick M. Malone, age 72, of Sanibel, Florida and Spicer, Minnesota, died Wednesday afternoon, September 23, at his home on Green Lake following a short illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, September 28, at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, September 27, 4-7 PM at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar with parish prayers at 4 PM, all are welcome. Visitation will continue one hour prior the service at the church on Monday. Memorials to Rice Hospice, Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota, Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church or Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center are preferred. Patrick Martin Malone was born on June 2, 1937, in Faribault, Minnesota to Francis Harry and Virginia (Havel) Malone. He graduated from Le Sueur High School in 1955 and attended St. John’s University and graduated in 1959 with majors in biology and chemistry. He finished medical school at the University of Minnesota in 1963. Pat married his beloved Wanda Quilitz on April 27, 1963. Following his graduation from medical school, he completed his internship at St Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota. Pat served as a captain in the Air Force from 1964 to 1966 as a flight surgeon. He then began his radiology residency at the University of Minnesota and Veteran’s Administration Hospitals. He completed his residency in 1970. Pat and Wanda moved their family to Willmar, Minnesota in the summer of 1970. Pat was passionate about his profession as a radiologist. He practiced at Rice Memorial Hospital and surrounding communities until 2005. He enjoyed the camaraderie of his colleagues and associates in health care. In the early 80’s, he began to pursue another passion, writing. He immersed himself in creating short stories initially and then proceeded to publish The Deep Woods Trilogy. He based his characters on woodland creatures from his treasured hobby farm. In his stories, he sought to teach lessons on kindness, generosity and faith. Pat and Wanda have enjoyed wintering in Sanibel, Florida for years and bought a permanent home there in 2000. He enjoyed the paradise of Sanibel but always said, “the only thing missing are my children.� He felt he had the best of both worlds living there during the winter and on beautiful Green Lake during the summer. His hobbies included golf, swimming, hunting and snowmobiling. Pat is survived by his wife, Wanda, sons and daughter; Dan (and Trudy) of Pewaukee, WI, Mike (and Jamie) of Spicer, MN, Melissa (and Dan) of Tonka Bay, MN, Christopher of St. Paul, MN and Justin (and Chelsea) of Apple Valley, MN; nine grandchildren; Hannah, Matt, Catie, Dylan, Aislyn, Alec, Patrick, Addie & Ayven, sister Mary Ann Antolak of Austin, TX and many relatives and friends. Pat was preceded in death by his parents and baby daughter, Rebecca.