Daniel Glen Malenke was born in Rochester, Minnesota, on August 18, 1953 to Glen and Bernice Malenke and older siblings, Norm, NJ, and Joeline.
He was baptized that same year and later confirmed in the Christian faith at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Austin, Minnesota in 1967. His family enjoyed many adventures traveling and camping throughout the United States and Canada. Dan cherished these memories throughout his life, which inspired his love of travel. Beginning as a young child, Dan loved to follow his dad around, learning about home and auto repair. He displayed a strong aptitude and fearless attitude toward building and repairing anything needing his attention.
Dan’s interest in printing along with his strong work ethic led to his being hired in the printing department of his high school at age 15. This was the first of many jobs in the field of printing technology and paper science. Dan’s family nurtured a love for music through singing of hymns in four part harmony around the piano a, a tradition still carried on at nearly every Malenke gathering. He played the cornet in his junior high band and then found his truest musical gift, vocal music, during his high school years. Dan sang in various ensembles, school musicals, and in “The Austinaires”.
In 1971, Dan began the pursuit of his goal of becoming a Lutheran educator by enrolling at Concordia Teachers’ College in Seward, Nebraska where he studied for two years. During his sophomore year, he realize that his gifts would be better used in the field of Graphic Arts. He began the transfer process to attend the University of Wisconsin Stout, to continue his education. During this same year, he met a freshman, Julia Bennett, and thus began a two-year long-distance courtship which culminated in their marriage on August 9, 1975. He put his degree on hold for one year, working two jobs, while Julie completed her teaching degree, and then the couple moved to Menomonie, Wisconsin.
After their move to Wisconsin, Dan completed his bachelor’s degree and was hired as a graduate assistant in the Graphic Arts department, while he began work on his master’s degree. In 1980, Dan and Julia were blessed with the gift of their daughter, Erin Elizabeth. During these years and after completing his master’s degree, Dan was hired to join the teaching department at Stout. While teaching a full load he also completed his Ed.D doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota. Upon completion of this degree, Dan was offered a position co-leading fine paper seminars at Mead Paper in Chillicothe OH. While Dan and his family were in Ohio, God blessed them again with the gift of their daughter, Lauren Elise.
In 1989, Mead offered Dan the opportunity to develop “Paperboard Knowledge” seminars in Atlanta, GA. Dan led these seminars for 7 years before he took the opportunity to develop a learning center in Phenix City, AL. Dan chose to settle his family in Auburn, AL so that his girls could attend the outstanding schools there. In 2008, Mead/Westvaco made the decision to move their headquarters to Richmond, VA. Dan and Julia followed. After restructuring at MeadWestvaco, Dan began his own company PKG PRO, LLC, which he ran successfully for 15 years.
Dan loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with a quiet, rock solid faith. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family with steadfast devotion. He was a true-blue friend and looked for ways that he could do something to make their life better. As he traveled here in the United States and around the world for business, he delighted in meeting new people. He would often come home relating stories of the new and interesting people he had met. He would also keep in touch with a wide circle of acquaintances, friends, and extended family. We rejoice that he is safely home in Heaven, we thank God for the joy of knowing him, and we will miss him dearly.