John “Jack” R. Malenke, of New Oxford, arrived home on July 21, 2026 at the age of 98. He was born on May 30, 1928 in Parker Ford, Chester County to the late Augustus Ferdinand Malenke, Jr. and Florence E. (Arters) Malenke. Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Elizabeth “Betty” (Alderfer) Malenke, his son, Kenneth R. Malenke, and his brother, A. Ferdinand “Ferde” Malenke, III. He is survived by his grandson, Jackson W. Malenke.

After graduating from Spring City High School, Jack served in the Army and then earned a bachelor’s degree from Juanita College and a Master’s degree from Temple University and also earned credits from Syracuse and Villanova Universities. His career in public education spanned over 38 years as an elementary teacher and principal. He was a lifelong member of the Church of Brethren and taught youth and adult Sunday school classes, sang in choirs, served on local church boards as well as commissions in the Atlantic Northeast and Southern Pennsylvania Districts of the Church of the Brethren. He also volunteered and served in many other capacities within the church and the community, including volunteering at Conewago and Paradise Elementary Schools. He was also a charter member of Poets’ Corner, a poetry group at Cross Keys Village.

Jack was a loving and devoted husband and father. He was a great friend. He loved words and arranging them into poems and prose. He was a keen observer and listener as well as a great story and joke-teller. He was thoughtful, witty, quietly charming and rarely failed to express gratitude. Even when the limitations and lamentations of old age were piling up, including the death of his dearest loved ones, increasing physical ailments, and a shrinking world, he never lost sight of the goodness, blessings and provision of the God he loved and served and all that was precious. The final stanza of one of Jack’s poems reads;

“Days measure life they say,
Well I wish to dissent.
Life is not measured by days,
But by precious moments.”

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jack’s memory can be made to the church at Africa Great Lakes, payable to “Southern Pennsylvania District” and mailed to Southern Pennsylvania District Office at 3375 Carlisle Road, Suite A, Gardners, PA 17324. Please include “Jack Malenke and Africa Great Lakes” on the memo line.

A memorial service to celebrate Jack’s long life will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 2 p.m. at the Nicarry Meetinghouse at Cross Keys Village, New Oxford, PA. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. at East Coventry Mennonite Cemetery in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Jack’s friend, the Rev. Dr. Warren M. Eshbach, will be officiating. Feiser Funeral & Cremation Care, Inc. Home, Inc., is in charge of arrangements.