Malcolm Dean Shaw, age 87, was released from the limitations of his body to enjoy heavenly freedom on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at 9:40 pm. He died peacefully at his home surrounded with love from his wife of 65 years and his devoted family.
Malcolm was born April 6, 1934 in Manitowoc, the youngest child of Clyde H. and Harriet W. (Babcock) Shaw. He attended McKinley, Wilson Junior High and Lincoln High Schools in Manitowoc. In 1951 he left high school and joined the U. S. Navy. After graduation from Great Lakes Naval Base he was stationed at San Diego and Treasure Island, CA before proudly setting sail aboard the USS Telfair APA210. His ship visited ports in Japan, Midway Island, and Vietnam. He was station next at Barber’s Point Naval Air Station in Oahu, Hawaii where he completed his four-year enlistment. Upon returning home, he continued his high school education and received his diploma from Lincoln High School.
He married his dear wife, the former Margaret Tadych, on April 28, 1956 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manitowoc and they raised two children together. He loved his family unconditionally and in them he found his greatest joy and source of pride.
Malcolm had many ‘careers’ in his life. He never considered any of them ‘jobs’ or ‘work’ simply because he loved doing them all. He delivered papers all over the county on his 1948 Harley Roadster, was a theater usher, a bartender, a milk man, a road construction worker. It was all fun and he took pride in doing every job well. In the 1960’s he began employment at Wisconsin Fuel and Light Company reading meters, then installing and repairing gas lines, then worked his way up to sales, so good at selling that he ended up converting over 200 homes from oil or coal to natural gas. Most people remember him as the owner of the “Poor House Bar”, later remodeled and expanded to become “Malcolm’s Cocktail Lounge and Restaurant” which he and Margaret operated for 28 years. He loved to build, remodel and create things. To fund remodeling projects at the business he learned to drive semi, got his CDL and won several safety awards. After Malcolm’s was sold and he was “retired”, he began driving semi full time for Wisconsin Nationwide and later Lakeside Foods. He loved driving truck, he loved making people happy, he loved making friends. He also loved giving people special nicknames, like “ma dirt”, “bulletproof” and “sled dog”, just to name a few. Malcolm had a great memory and could tell you the history of most of downtown Manitowoc, who lived in which house on his paper or milk route and who lived in most of the homes he converted to gas. Because he knew so many people, his first question when meeting someone new was, “what’s your last name?” followed by “are you related to…?”. A lot of the time he knew their family and the stories began, new connections were made.
His accomplishments were numerous. Malcolm was part of a group who convinced the city to pave the section of what is now Maritime Drive from N. 5th St. to Cleveland Ave. and move the Yacht club from it’s old home near the north-side pier to it’s present location, then served as it’s Commodore. He was a talented softball player and with several friends formed the Westfield Athletic Club, which later became Kenny’s Athletic Club. The Kenny’s Tournament that continues today was first begun by the WAC. The Poor House and Malcolm’s sponsored many athletic teams of numerous sports for both men and women. There were so many men’s softball teams that he implemented a color system… Poor House Red, Green, Blue, Orange, etc. and that practice can still be seen in the city leagues. You will also see teams wearing uniform shorts, which his men’s softball teams were the first to wear. After becoming a business owner, he helped create the Manitowoc Downtown Business Association to form an alliance between the city and the merchants. Malcolm was a supporter of the United Way sponsoring an annual show at Malcolm’s to support the cause. He embraced his Irish heritage, celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, gave an award to the “Irishman of the Year” (to both men and women), and organized a St. Patrick’s Day parade which has grown and continues to be held. Malcolm was a generous man who would help anyone in need. He was also a very proud Navy veteran and member of the local Disabled American Veterans.
Malcolm is survived by his wife, Margaret; daughter, Sharon Shaw, Manitowoc; son, Mark
(Linda) Shaw, Plymouth; three grandchildren, Amanda (Casey) Sieracki, Jessica (Eric) Ebert, and Casey (Krista) Shaw; seven great-grandchildren, William, Clara and Emily Sieracki, Cael and Landry Ebert, and Libby and Easton Shaw; sister, Barbara (Richard) Keller, Aurora, CO; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Marion Lindholm, Lorraine (Roger) Oswald, James (Judie) Tadych, Nancy (Gary) Orth, Germaine Miles, Joe Tadych, and Ann Murray; also many nieces, nephews, other relatives and good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Harriet Shaw; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joseph and Marcella (Walters) Tadych; three brothers, Donald, John and Clyde “Baldy” Shaw Jr.; four sisters, Beatrice Kohlbeck, Phyllis Tadych, Marion Wagner, and Ruth Wagner; 11 brothers-in-law, Bill Tadych, George Wagner, Reinnie Wagner, Lester Block, Joe French, Wally Haske, Jack Tadych, Hal Reinke, Bob Lindholm, Tom Murray, and Tom Tadych; two sisters-in-law, Laura (Reif) Shaw and Olga (Witt) Shaw; also several nephews and dear friends.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 29, 2021 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on Waldo, 1121 North 14th Street, Manitowoc. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Benjamin Johnson with burial to take place at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date. The family will greet relatives and friends at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on Waldo on Monday from 9 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 11 a.m. Cremation has taken place at the Harrigan Parkside Crematory and Chapel. Military rites will be accorded at the church by the AMVETS Post #99 following the memorial service. A luncheon for family and friends will be held at the Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials in Malcolm’s name.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Holy Family Memorial Hospice for the care given to Malcolm in his last weeks and for the support to Margaret and Sharon.
Malcolm was our heart, our core, our anchor. We will love him and remember him forever, and always enjoy living life as well and fully as he did.
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
