Dr. Thomas F. Malone

Dr. Thomas Ford Malone, 90, of Sioux City passed from this life on Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 at a Sioux City hospital, surrounded by his family.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with the Rev. Merlin Schrad officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, with a parish vigil service being said at 7 p.m., followed by a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Chalice Service, at Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Tom was born on July 3, 1923, in Sioux City, Iowa. He was the son of James and Marie (Ford) Malone. He was a lifelong Sioux City resident. He attended Cathedral Grade School and Trinity High School. In 1941 he joined the U.S. Army and served in the Pacific Theater as a medic. He was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and a Bronze Star for bravery. After the service he attended Creighton University and Creighton Dental School.
On June 9, 1951, he married Mary L. Paup at the Cathedral of the Epiphany and loved her for over 62 years. Dr. Malone started his dental practice in Sioux City in 1952 and operated it for over 50 years. He had a true passion for dentistry, seeing each day as an opportunity to help his patients. He continued to offer dental services to those in need after he retired.
Tom was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and the 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the American Dental Association and had served on the Creighton Dental School Advisory Board. Tom was an avid golfer. Tom and Mary were members of the Sioux City Boat Club and the Dakota Dunes Country Club. They also enjoyed traveling to Palm Desert, Calif.
His life was guided by a few simple philosophies: faith and family first, be a gentleman to all, find time to exercise and play, and never, ever quit. He shared his love with Mary and their children, his friends and the countless people he helped through the years.
Tom’s greatest pleasure was his family. Left to always honor his memory are his wife, Mary; his children, Molly (Malone) Tursi and Frank Tursi of Des Moines, Iowa, Tom Malone of Des Moines, Matt Malone of Bucyrus, Kan., Mike and Darla Malone of Austin, Texas, Martha (Malone) Starr and Jon Starr of Denver, Colo., Peggy (Malone) Fagerland and Dr. Jeff Fagerland of West Des Moines, Iowa, Katie Malone Meador and Dr. Keith Meador of Nashville, Tenn., Liz (Malone) Meek and Mike Meek of Bucyrus, Kan., and Eileen (Malone) Hatfield and Jim Hatfield of Paradise Valley, Ariz.; 25 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mary Fran Cavel and Margaret Jean Jones, both of Omaha.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Patrick; and two grandchildren, Brendan and Bridgette Hatfield.
The lessons he left his family are basic but invaluable: love one another, love your spouse, help others, and don't complain. He showed us how in the way he treated us, in his relationship with Mary, by the countless people he readily assisted, and by responding, "I'm O.K," when asked how he was doing on the day he died. With his quiet confidence and optimistically uncomplicated outlook on his life, he was the greatest role model a family could have. He was an inspiration throughout his life and will continue to be in his death.
A memorial has been established in his name at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and the Carmelite Monastery in Sioux City.