Gerald "Jerry" John Maly

Gerald “Jerry” John Maly, age 81, of Apache Junction, Arizona, died on Monday, April 8, 2024 at Hospice of the Valley in Gilbert, Arizona.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Constance, Nebraska.  Burial will be at the St. Rose of Lima Cemetery in Crofton, Nebraska, followed by a lunch at Glad Tidings Bible Camp, west of Crofton.

Gerald “Jerry” John Maly was born June 12, 1942, the 4^th child of 12 born to Hillard and Hilda (Keiser) Maly.  Jerry was born at home in rural Cedar County, Nebraska, and attended St. Rose Grade School and Crofton High School in Crofton, NE.  He enjoyed playing football and baseball during his high school years and the one year he attended college.  Early in his life he became a Dodger fan, which he maintained throughout his life.  He also closely followed the Nebraska Cornhuskers' football team, in good years and not so good years.

After graduating high school in 1960, Jerry attended Wayne State College, then served 7 years in the US Navy.  He served on a nuclear powered submarine and traveled to many parts of the world.  He often quoted the cliche, “They say, 'Join the Navy and see the world,' but they didn't tell me the world was 70 percent water!”   During his Navy years he received many years of training in electronics.

After he was honorably discharged he worked at several computer related companies as a technician, traveling a great deal for the installation and maintenance of industrial computing equipment.  In the mid 80's he settled in the Phoenix, AZ area and in 1993 he married Donna Carrothers.   He was later employed at the US Postal Service and at the Federal Aviation Administration.

In 1986 Jerry turned a big corner in his life when he gave up alcohol and gave his heart to Jesus Christ.   He often testified to many miracles in his life.  The big three (physical) miracles were: surviving alcoholism, overcoming throat cancer, and successful heart surgery.  He was always ready to testify to the goodness of the Lord, even when he was suffering through many physical limitations.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two infant brothers, Robert and Joseph, three sisters-in-law, Darnell Maly, Cheri Maly, Sharon Huffman, and father-in-law Donald Greenwell.

He is survived by his wife Donna, their children: Randy (Jacque), Darrin (Roxanne) and Laura Walters, mother-in-law Ethel Ruby Greenwell, sisters-in-law Loretta Jones and Lorraine Mattox, six brothers and three sisters: Frank (Judy) of Ames, IA, Dennis of Yankton, SD, Marvin (Marilyn) of Onawa, IA, Kenneth of Vienna, Austria, Rita of Fremont, NE, Rose/Sr. Rosemarie of Yankton, SD, Carol (Kenny) Pelster of Bartlett, NE, Mike (Sharon) of Omaha, NE, and Tom (Teri) of Jasper, AR.