Dr. Paul G. Malen

Dr. Paul Gordon Malen passed away on October 21, 2025 at his home at the age of 79. He was born on January 15, 1946 in Chicago, IL and raised in the northern suburbs. He graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL in 1964. He attended Washington University in St. Louis, MO, majored in English Literature and graduated in 1968. He was then employed as a unit counselor at the former Pritzker Children’s Hospital which provided behavioral and mental health services for children. His next job was Recreation Director at Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind where he organized and accompanied blind and visually impaired adults on local and out of state adventures. During this time, Paul also filmed, directed and produced a documentary, “Derek”, about an African-American preadolescent boy who lived in the Chicago Projects. Paul wanted the viewers to experience how racism affected Derek both educationally and environmentally. It was shown at a local art film house and on Chicago Public Television.

Paul also decided to prepare for a second career as a physician. While he was working at Lighthouse, he took prerequisite classes in the sciences at the University of Illinois-Chicago that he needed before applying to medical schools. He attended Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine from 1973-1977. Every clinical rotation he did as a student interested him and he couldn’t decide what specialty to choose for his future practice. He finally decided to do it in Family Medicine so he could have a variety of experiences. After graduating, he did his internship and residency programs at various Chicago area hospitals. Paul had gotten a public health scholarship towards his medical school tuition. Following his residency, he worked at a medical clinic in “Little Mexico”, a Mexican-American area in Chicago to pay it back.

In 1984, Paul moved to Wisconsin with his wife and four children and joined Dr. Michael Górczyński in his private practice in West Allis. He developed close relationships with many of his patients. Since Paul loved fishing, he encouraged his patients to bring photos of their trophy fish to hang on the bulletin board in the waiting room. Being a primary care physician, Paul was a witness to the highs and lows in many people’s lives. He was so quick with analogies to explain medical terms, procedures, illnesses and medication purposes. He wanted patients to understand what was happening in them and to them. He was often behind schedule because he gave his patients his full attention. By 1999, his practice was so busy he hired a Physician Assistant, Anne Walz-Calvey, who was with him until he retired. He also hired two LPN’s, Ana and Bernie, who were with him for 12+ years. Paul joined with Aurora Healthcare in 2004, along with his PA and LPN’s. His practice remained in West Allis for a time, but was then moved to New Berlin. Paul retired in 2011. One of his nurses put together a scrapbook of the 86 cards and letters he received from patients, employees and fellow doctors.

Even though Paul was incredibly busy with work, he always made time to recreate with his children, step-children and grandchildren and attend their athletic events and theatrical productions. He was a baseball and soccer coach for several years. His love of the outdoors was reflected in the places he liked to take them and activities he liked to do with them such as camping and snow skiing. He loved to pull the kids behind his boat on tubes and give them a wild, bumpy ride, in and out of the wake, call “bucking bronco”.

When Paul retired, he pursued his hobbies of nature photography, model trains, playing his guitar, fishing and learning to play the keyboard. He also loved being able to spend time with his grandchildren and travel to national parks with his wife. His cottage on Lake Wisconsin was a place he enjoyed spending time at and sharing with others.

In 2020, Paul was diagnosed with a rare tumor, a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) and following six months of immunotherapy medication had it surgically removed. In late 2021, after the worsening of his hand tremor, he was diagnosed with Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s Disease. In 2024, another GIST was surgically removed. In January 2025, metastatic tumors in the lining of his abdomen were seen on CT scan which meant the immunotherapy medication was no longer effective against his cancer. He began taking the secondary immunotherapy medication, but within six weeks had to discontinue it because of serious cognitive side effects. Even after he no longer took the medication, his cognitive abilities continued to worsen (which several scientific studies have shown can happen) and over the course of the spring, summer and fall Paul went from being able to take care of himself and leading a relatively independent life to needing assistance with most things. He could not remember what he was trying to say or complete the question he was trying to ask so discussions with anyone were quite limited. He couldn’t drive. He couldn’t remember how to do most things that were once so easy for him. At the same time, his Essential and Parkinson’s tremors worsened considerably and weren’t able to be controlled by medications. His walking became slower, his balance was off, he could not do any of his hobbies since they all required the use of steady hands. Feeding himself became almost impossible. What was once a very fulfilling life became very small for him. In October, he began having abdominal pain and more metastatic tumors were found in his abdominal lining. The side effects of any other immunotherapy medication would have added more discomfort to an already over stressed body and would not have given him his quality of life back. After a week of great care in Froedtert Hospital’s Center for Advanced Care, Paul went home and received care from Horizon Hospice Services. He only lived four more days but was surrounded by his family and friends in his final 11 days of life. The most amazing thing is that during his health battles of the last five years, Paul never expressed bitterness or felt sorry for himself. He tried as hard as he could to exude a positive attitude and move on.

Paul is survived by Cheryl, his wife of 34 years, his children Kiesa, Brynna, Luke and Ted Malen and step-children Curt (Melissa) Lockman and Julie (Jason) Koch. He is also survived by his brother David Malen and was cherished uncle of Bryan (Laurie) Oliver and Paula (Steve) Fisher. The most recent lights of his life were his beloved grandchildren, Kyler Malen, Zoe Malen, Reese Lockman, Landon Koch, Lincoln Koch, William Lockman Josie Malen and Declan Koch.

Due to family living out of the country, a celebration of Paul’s life will be held on December 28, 2025. Check the Randle-Dable-Brisk Funeral Home website after November 15th for time and location.

Paul believed in charitable giving and supported many charities. Donations can be made in his memory to any of his favorites; American Red Cross, Disabled American Veterans, Doctors Without Borders, Make a Wish Foundation, Save the Children and World Wildlife Fund.