Cleo Faye Maalis

Visitation services for Cleo Maalis, age 86 of Milaca, formerly of Crosby, will be held Thursday, August 27th at the Milaca Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. Private interment to follow the next day, August 28th in Crosby, Minnesota. Cleo Maalis was born July 17, 1929 in North Bend Wisconsin to Carroll and Eunice Sims. She went to school in Melrose, Wisconsin where she was in band and various sports. She was working as a telephone operator near Fort McCoy when she met the love of her life, James Maalis. They were married shortly afterward and moved to Crosby, Minnesota where she had five sons. Cleo loved to travel, read, cook, enjoyed her kids and grandkids. Her favorite pastime was watching her birds at the feeder. She was a very giving person always willing to lend a hand. She is survived by her five sons, Bruce, Brian, David (Denise), Lynn (Carrie) and Craig (Caryn) Maalis. She had eight grandchildren, Terryll Beniek, Justin Maalis, Chad Maalis, Michelle Maalis, Jacob Maalis, Kendra Maalis, Nicole Maalis and Erika Maalis. She also had 9 great grandchildren and most recently, her first great, great grandchild. She is also survived by her two brothers, Larry and Dale Sims and one sister, Joyce Sawyer. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jim; sisters, Doris Byom, Jean Pace and Nancy Stearns.