Fred Mally

Fred Mally, 95, of Solon, went home to be with the Lord on December 31, 2024 after a brief stay at Solon Care Center. Visitation will be held from 4-6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at Lensing. Interment will be at Buresh Cemetery in Ely. Fred was born on May 8, 1929 in Cedar Rapids to Fred A. and Olga (Topinka) Mally. After graduating from Roosevelt High School, he served in the United States Navy where he was a flight instrument trainer and received his electrical training. Following discharge, Fred returned to Iowa to pursue farming. His sons Dan and Pat were born in Iowa, and then in 1961, he and his sons moved to California, where he worked as an electrician. He met Alice MacDougall there, and the two were married on March 18, 1967 in Santa Barbara, California. The couple welcomed daughters Rose and Jen before moving back to the farm in Solon, Iowa on Lake MacBride. From 1975-1985, Fred worked for himself as an electrician as well as tending to the farm. In 1985, he began working in the maintenance department at the University of Iowa before retiring in 1996. Fred never let his time go to waste, and enjoyed inventing new things â€" he even got one patented! He relished working on the farm, eating homegrown produce and listening to Dixieland jazz music. He and Alice traveled all over to attend jazz festivals. Fred was a master storyteller, and enjoyed recalling his Navy days and many other exploits, including skydiving, practicing karate, and working in many exciting places, including an oil platform and Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. He could start a conversation with anyone, no matter where he went. He doted on his John Deere tractors and his family (especially his grandkids!). He had the best of both worlds when he designed and installed a side-seat for his tractor, so the grandkids could sit next to him and ride out in the field. Fred is survived by his loving wife, Alice; children Dan (Jan) Mally, Patrick Mally, Rose (Jason) Reiseck and Jennifer (Bill) Hawks; grandchildren Loren (Sara) Mally, Ian (Robyn) Mally, A.J. Mally, Bailey and Bella Reiseck, Wyatt and Landon Hawks; great grandchildren Nikolaus, Nathan, and Reznor. He is also survived by his sister, Rosalie Hensch, sister-in-law, Lorna (Tom) Griesbach, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Marilyn Kessler and Francis Mally; brothers-in-law Tom Kessler, Bill Manning, and Byron Hensch; and in-laws, George and Florence MacDougall. The family extends a heartfelt thank you to Iowa City Hospice, Solon Care Center and the VA Medical Staff for the care and compassion they showed to Fred and his entire family. Memorial donations may be made to Iowa City Hospice; online condolences may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.