MALMBERG, Melvin Duane
1944 – 2009
Melvin Duane Malmberg passed away at Vulcan Community Health Centre October 9, 2009 at the age of 65 years.
Beloved husband of wife Loyia of Vulcan, loving father of two daughters Suzanne (Dennis) Douglas and Sheilah (Bryce) Schutte, a son Steven (Jessica) Malmberg, five grandchildren Devett, Gabriela, Kayden, Chaz, Mitchell, mother Lucy, sister Linda Rutland, four brothers Ken, Rick, Kirk, Kevin, and numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Celebration of Life service was held at Champion Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was held Thursday October 15, 2009 with Bishop Robert Ellis officiating.
Internment will take place at a later date.
Tributes in Duane’s memory can be made to Vulcan Community Health Centre Ladies Auxiliary, Box 299, Vulcan T0L 2B0 or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements in care of Vulcan Funeral Home. Directors. Telephone 1-403-485-2633. E-mail condolences to vulcanfuneralhome@hotmail.com.
Duane Malmberg’s life Story
Narrated by his children
On June 30 1944 a 4lb 4 oz baby boy was born in High River, pre-mature and fighting for his life. With only a month stay in the hospital before he started his journey with two wonderful parents Clinton Melvin and Lucy Margaret out at Herronton on the farm that many of us know. Dad was the oldest of five brothers and one sister. He went to school starting in Herronton and then going to Mossleigh. He always told us he got kicked out of grade 2 for not shaving but I think he made it all the way to grade 4.
I remember Dad telling us about one time when he was young, Dad and Randy were out playing in the creek, and they both got muddy and soggy wet so they decided to go back to Grandpa and Grandma’s house so they could put their dirty wet clothes into the dyer. Grandma caught the boys a little too late. Needless to say that Grandma wasn’t too happy about the situation.
Dad was a hard worker growing up on the farm, feeding cows, being on tractors or his favourite on the combine. But something called him away a couple of times. Once down to Ontario to work at the Ford plant, Steve says that’s when he became brain washed and a Ford lover forever. He didn’t like it down there being so far away from his family and the farm. He also went to Calgary to work at the foundry. However the love of the farm kept on bring him back home.
Aunt Linda told me that when Dad and Ken would go to a dance, they were strongly encouraged to take Aunt Linda with them. I think that Grandpa was getting Aunt Linda to tag along so that Dad and Ken would not get themselves into too much trouble. Dad was always so kind, honest, gentle and a man of his word. A neighbour said that Dad’s hand shake was just as good as a piece of paper with a signature on it.
Uncle Kirk said that when he was ten or twelve he was out picking bales with dad and all the rest of the boys, Kirk said that he would pick one when he could get one, Uncle Earl looked back and said that dad was like a badger, up on the bale wagon head down and throwing hay like nobody’s business.
On November 24, 1973 Duane married the love of his life Loyia and then in October of ‘74 they were proud parents of a baby girl. That New Years Malmberg reunion Dad said when he carried Suzanne into the hall he was the proudest Dad ever, with a smile that was miles wide. Then in ’76 they had a son and then in ’80 the milk man showed up and delivered a red headed firecracker. One of Dad’s children wanted to send the last baby back on the railroad tracks, one little boy was disappointed at the time.
Over the years Duane and Loyia have been blessed with five grandchildren. Four little boys and one little girl have given the family so many smiles and laughs over the years. Duane had made an effort to head out to the farm every day to spend time with Kayden, Chaz and Mitchell. Dad loved to see Devett and Gabriela come and spent time with them in Vulcan. Dad has always had the magical gift of making babies smile and making them want to play with him. He worked hard to make sure that he was there for sporting events and important times in the kid’s lives.
In 2003 Dad and Ken sold the farm and Dad thought that he was going to become a truck driver but his health conditions caused Dad to rethink that situation. Always having to stay busy and his love for the farm got him back onto the combine once again. Dad started to help Newt seed that next spring. That harvest Dad took a fall off the grain truck and he got to go for a helicopter ride of which he was totally unaware. Doctor’s gave him a 50-50 chance to come out of the Rockyview. We were blessed with another 5 years, and Mom says that those were the best years of their marriage.
Mom and Dad have a great love for each other. When Dad was in the hospital he would wait for mom to come back to the room or even the hospital before he would let anything happen. I’m so grateful that I was able to witness the love that Dad and Mom shared. When Dad was in the hospital and the nurses would come by to wash his face or brush his teeth, Dad would often ask if Loyia could do it instead. Dad was that way even up to his last days, and Mom wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Dad went into the hospital for the final time on September 30, 2009. 2 weeks before that Dad had gone to Calgary and had over 2 litres of fluid drain from around his lungs. Once again Dad made the trip up to Calgary to get another 2.3 litres drained. Grandma said that he was always a fighter and he proved that by fighting that first month after he was born and up until the last seconds of his life. He wanted to make sure that people didn’t think that he had given up, and we will always remember the strength that he had. We will always remember him as a fighter and a man of choice words, a closed mouth attracts no feet.