Karen Eileen Maleske

MALESKE, Karen (nee Bainter), passed away Thursday, 16 April 2026. She was born January 10, 1943, in Dayton, OH to Irene Zima (Stark/Bainter) and Willard E. Bainter. She is survived by four children: her daughter Chantele Dow & husband Steve; daughter Michelle Judson & husband Tim Sharp; son David Judson, Jr. & wife Mindi; and step-daughter Michelle Gelpke; five grandchildren Ashley Callan and her husband Matt; Paul Dow; Hannah Hacker & her husband Garret; Lily Judson; Brennan Gelpke; and Aiden Gelpke; six great-grandchildren Ezekiel David, Emersyn Joe, & Shyla Marie Callan; and Haddon Michael, Owen David & Lucy BrielleHacker; brother Bruce Bainter and his wife Annette and brother Bill Bainter. She was preceded in death by her mother and father; her stepfather William P. Zima; her brother Bryan Bainter; and her sister Carol Bainter.

Karen served her nation as a career civil servant at Wright Patterson AFB, retiring in 1993. She was a lover of animals, an avid golfer, an amazing cook, the life of the party, and most of all a protector for those she loved.

A private burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. If desired, donations may be made to The Tenth Life, PO Box 178, Alpha, OH 45301; Day City Hospice, https://daycityhospice.com/donate/; or the Alzheimer’s Association of Dayton, 6 N Main St Suite #130, Dayton, OH 45402.