Obituary for David Dale Malenke

David Dale Malenke, born on August 28th, 1962 in Worthington, MN to Dale and Marilyn (Clark) Malenke. On March 4, 2021 at age 58, David passed on to be with our Heavenly Father and was surrounded by his family that has always loved and adored him.

David graduated from Starbuck High School in 1981. In his senior high school yearbook he was nominated as “most likely to succeed”. Little did anyone know that he would indeed go above and beyond in order to make that happen! In his 58 years he managed to live a life that most others only dream of.

After high school he enlisted in the Air Force from 1981-1985. During his time in the Air Force he succeeded in attaining Staff Sergeant ahead of his peer group—he was focused on that high school title after all!

His professional career was focused on his love of engineering. David obtained his B.S.in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1996 followed by a M.S. in electrical engineering from the National Technological University in 2000 and finally a MBA (Executive MBA) from University of St. Thomas in 2007. He enjoyed a great career at Honeywell and then at Medtronic working on neuromodulation.

David was instrumental in helping to establish the Maple Grove Youth Football Association (MGYFA) in 2011. He continued to serve on the board and as coach until his death. He loved football, loved coaching kids, helping them be better, and look beyond the gridiron. He also served on the Lake Minnetonka Athletic Association since 2015. While David loved his career and football that paled in comparison to his love of hunting and fishing! There was no limit to his passion for being outdoors which was evidenced by the work he put into his hunting property located in Central Minnesota. Friends even commented how on an evening when it was opening deer hunting season David had to attend class at St. Thomas. To show his commitment to hunting and disappointment in missing opening hunting he arrived to class in full “hunter orange”. David’s sense of fashion could not be matched!

David was also an avid woodworker. He enjoyed working with many types of wood and building things for family and friends. He could never just follow a plan; he always added his own touch to each project. Most projects become a family project.

Engineering, football, hunting, fishing and woodworking still couldn’t hold a candle to marrying his wonderful wife, Mary (Megchelsen) Malenke. This diehard Minnesotan was smitten with the beautiful girl from Iowa and they married on a very snowy day in Iowa on April 12, 1997. Life only got better when the couple added three incredible children to their family: Paul, Robert and Leann Malenke. David continued on his “most likely to succeed” endeavor by being committed to being the best father to his children. He had a passion for family, hunting, fishing, Boy Scouts, youth football and even Irish dancing! David’s children clearly were his greatest achievement and to see how proud he was of them was to witness something special! David was loved by everyone he met and a pillar of the community. Anyone that got to meet him was privileged to have been touched by an incredible human being.

Preceded in death by his father, Dale Malenke; uncle, Gary Malenke; paternal grandparent and maternal grandparents and his in-laws; and his dogs, Jack and Penny.

David is survived by his wife, Mary (Megchelsen) Malenke; children, Paul, Robert, and Leann Malenke; mother, Marilyn (Clark) Mortenson; siblings, Teresa Brannigan (Pat), Susan Nelson (Steve), and Paul Malenke (Michelle); brother-in-law, Neal Megchelsen (Karen) and sister-in-law, Sara Megchelsen (Rob Horning); nieces, Megan Brannigan, Rachel Carstensen, Renee Megchelsen; nephews, Nathan Malenke, Trent Megchelsen; as well as beloved dogs Bailey and Zeus.

A private service will be held 11 AM Thursday, March 11, 2021, at Christ Presbyterian Church, 6901 Normandale Rd, Edina, MN. The service will be live-streamed at www.livestream.com/cpc Interment will be at Fron Lutheran Cemetery, Starbuck, MN. Visitation will be 4-8 PM Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at Evans-Nordby Funeral Home, 34 2nd St. NE, Osseo – please call 763-424-4000 to reserve a time to attend.

Memorial preferred to the Dave Malenke Scholarship for a Maple Grove Senior High football player who participated in MGYFA. Memorials may be sent to MGYFA, c/o Dave Malenke Scholarship. PO Box 2062, Maple Grove, MN 55311 or you may also make an electronic payment a https://yfb.mgyfa.com/malenkescholarship