As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” Former elementary school teacher, John L. Malone, Jr., 84, of Laurium and Big Traverse passed away at Canal View on April 26, 2025, where he had been a rehab patient following a serious stroke.
He was born in Nashville, Tennessee, to Mary Sue Hardcastle and John L. Malone on September 27, 1940. The family lived in Chelsea, Michigan, for several years while his father worked as a proof reader in Ann Arbor. They later bought a house in Dearborn.
John attended Pumpkin College, a one room country school near Chelsea, Michigan. He reflected about his time there in the small classroom with multiple grade levels and one teacher. He would sit and listen to the older students being taught after the teacher finished working with him. He also shared that in this small one room school was a telephone that he was able to use one time. It was his first time using a telephone! He graduated from Dearborn High School in 1958, Dearborn Community College and Eastern Michigan University in 1965.
He married Margret (Peggy) Gourd on June 20, 1964. Shortly thereafter, he and Peggy purchased her childhood home in Dearborn. They lived there until 1994 when they retired to Laurium.
He was hired by Wayne-Westland Community Schools teaching mainly fourth grade until he retired in 1992. John was instrumental in forming the Wayne-Westland teacher’s union where he served as president and chief negotiator during the contentious 1971-72 teacher contract dispute which finally ended a 5-day strike in January 1972. John kept letters that his former students wrote to him over the years. They are filled with joy and thanks for what they took from his class. One letter, similar to many others, stated, “One of the things I liked most about Mr. Malone was how he treated me and made me feel special.” The Guidance Counselor in the district also wrote to John stating that the mother of a graduating senior said that John’s “outstanding efforts as a teacher” were a “major positive influence on her son’s academic and personal successes.” As the opening quote states, his influence impacted many students and families which was evident in all of the letters that he saved.
Peggy and John built a cottage at Agate Harbor in 1970. They relished spending their summers at the lake leaving lower Michigan the day after school was out in June and not returning until Labor Day weekend. John enjoyed agate hunting and fishing while on the north shore.
In 1980 they sold the cottage to Peggy’s sister and built a cottage at Big Traverse. They loved being on Lake Superior, and now they could watch the sunrises, instead of the sunsets, as this home is on the opposite shore of the Keweenaw Peninsula. An added bonus living on the east side was enjoyment of the sand beach. John especially liked not losing fishing lures to hidden rocks, as in Agate Harbor.
John was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing at local courses. He organized and ran a senior men’s league for many years. His collection of “lost” golf balls was astounding…all washed and organized into dozens of egg cartons. He learned how to make golf clubs and fit many of his friends with new clubs. He also repaired clubs and gave golfing advice and tips when asked. John was a very good golfer and was always “down the middle” of the fairway. His short game was phenomenal. If you were playing against John in the league, his short game was his secret weapon.
In addition to golfing, John’s hobbies included many craft and woodworking projects. He made wooden benches, a captain’s telephone stand, a secretary desk, enclosed bookshelves using leaded cabinet doors from Peggy’s house, coffee tables and toy storage boxes. He also made jewelry from tumbled smooth agates found at Agate Harbor. He created suncatchers, lamp shades and larger panels from stained glass. Recently, John was wood burning, painting ornaments and pictures which led to painting with acrylics on canvas boards. He was a teacher by profession but he was also a lifelong learner and enjoyed sharing his talents with others through his generous gift giving.
Throughout his life John enjoyed owning antique cars. Among his collection was a Triumph, a 1948 Dodge, a 1934 Plymouth, a 1966 Ford Mustang and a 1974 Ford Ranchero.
John was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Sue Joyce Torzewski, and her husband Thomas.
In addition to his wife, John is survived by one brother James Michael (Kay) of Wadsworth, Ohio. A nephew James Michael Malone, Jr. (Kathleen) of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, their children Esther, James, Janelle, Dorothy, John L. and Thomas. A niece Melissa ( Malone) Martin (Phil) of Andover, MA, their children Eli and Ari. Two nieces, Jenna (Torzewski) Brown(Jeremy) of Waterford, Michigan and Kelley Torzewski from Sterling Heights, Michigan.
A graveside service will be held on August 30th at the Eagle Harbor Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Calumet Art Center, specified for the “Summer Youth Program” or to the Copper Country Humane Society. A special thank you to the staff of Canal View for their wonderful expertise and caring attitude.
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
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