Malo was born to Carl and Nina Williams in rural Hubbard, Iowa. She grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa, and graduated from Marshalltown High School, Class of 1940. Malo met Richard Kurtz through mutual friends in Marshalltown. They moved to Los Angeles, California, where they were married and both gained employment at Douglas Aircraft Company. The war brought them home again and their family was started before Richard was deployed. Children Kathleen and John were raised in Marshalltown.

Rich and Malo began another adventure when they moved to the Phoenix area. With other family members living there, they enjoyed the Southwest lifestyle for twenty-three years. They retired to Marshalltown in 1995. Malo’s employment included F.W. Woolworth Company, the LE Meyers Company locally and Valley Distributing in Arizona. Malo lost Richard in 1999. She was appreciative of her neighbors at Olive Estates, in particular Bob and MaryLin Gean, and with her caregivers, Rhonda Gonzalez and Connie Close. A special thanks to Dina Dotterweich and the staff at RCL, and Essence of Life Hospice for Malo’s good care in Lisbon.

Malo and Rich enjoyed golf, bowling and their Friday night poker games. An occasional trip to Las Vegas and, later, Meskwaki, was always on the table.

Malo is survived by daughter Kathleen (Glover) Ferguson, of Coronado, California, Grandson Glover (Ame) Ferguson, of Corpus Christi, Texas and great grandchildren Lachlan and Rowan; grandson Michael (Rebecca) Ferguson, of La Jolla, California and great grandchildren Beau and Blythe; son John (Tonya) Kurtz, of Sutliff, Iowa, granddaughter Magille (Patrick) Gevock, of West Branch, Iowa and great grandchildren Jeremiah, Teghan and Tava; grandson Brandon (Melissa) Kurtz, of Lisbon, Iowa and Brandon’s children M’Lynn and Kane; grand son-in-law Dale Merrill, of Mount Vernon, Iowa and great grandchildren Kale and Remy; nephews Steven (Terry) Fields and Mike (Wendy) Fields.

Malo was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard; sister Vera Fields and granddaughter Kasey Merrill.

Visitation and services will be held at Mitchell Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa, at a later date to be announced.