Joe Anne Malkovich

Joe Anne Malkovich, 80, of Benton died at 6:10 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2009.

Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, at the Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home in Benton. Private funeral services will be held Wednesday with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton.

Malkovich was born April 25, 1928, in Benton, the daughter of Steve and Edna (Johnson) Choisser. She married Daniel Malkovich Dec. 30, 1950.

She graduated from Benton Township High School in 1946 and Lindenwood College in 1950. Malkovich earned a master's degree in education from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

She taught one year at Mulkeytown Grade School and later was employed at Cockrum Intermediate Care in Benton.

Malkovich was a longtime employee of The Benton Evening News, a newspaper owned by her family until 1986. She retired as community page editor in 2003. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Benton. Malkovich was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and a devotee of Coach Bobby Knight.

Malkovich is survived by her sons, Daniel Malkovich and wife, Debbie, of Sesser, and John Malkovich and Nicole Peyran of Cambridge, Mass., daughters, Melissa Malkovich and Joe Starita of Seagrove Beach, Fla., Amanda Malkovich of River Forest and Rebecca Malkovich of Benton; grandchildren, Matthew Malkovich and wife, Brandi, of Orlando, Fla., Loewy and Amandine Malkovich of Cambridge, Mass., Jesse Starita of Lincoln, Neb., and Jake and Eli Ivanovich of Benton; one step-grandson, Tim Eubanks and wife, Kim, of Benton; two step-grandchildren, T.J. Eubanks of Sesser and Bayley Eubanks of Benton; and by her beloved Benton Evening News family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one brother, James Choisser.