An equipment inventor who built a life designing implements for prairie farmers has died.
Leon Malinowski died of heart failure at a hospital in China Aug. 23 at age 74, about six weeks after a successful lung transplant.
“He got a name as being reliable and innovative,” said John Malinowski, Leon’s nephew. “His passion was designing.”
Growing up during the Depression, Malinowski developed a work ethic that he lived by daily.
“They grew up with nothing, so the only thing there was to do was work,” said John of his uncle, Leon, and father, Ray.
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Even in his 70s, Leon Malinowski continued to spend 20 to 30 hours a week at Leon’s Manufacturing based in Yorkton, Sask., designing better farm implements.
Malinowski started as a welder and mechanic at his father’s welding and blacksmith shop in Bankend, Sask., before taking over the business in 1952.
His business took off after he designed and built his well-known Leon Dozer Blade Unit primarily to deal with heavy snows Saskatchewan farmers encountered. Orders came in from across Canada and the United States.
He soon introduced other inventions, such as rock pickers and front-end loaders and before long he and his brother formed Leon’s Manufacturing and relocated to a Yorkton factory in 1967.
Two other businesses, Ram Industries and Maki Enterprises, which produce light industrial equipment and do custom metal work respectively, followed.
In the last several years, Malinowski had picked up the fiddle he played when he was young. He made two old-time fiddle CDs and enjoyed playing at fairs and in seniors’ homes.
“He liked to make people smile,” said his nephew.
Malinowski is survived by his wife of 52 years, Pauline, two daughters, a son, several grandchildren and other family.
The funeral service was scheduled for Aug. 31 at St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church in Yorkton.
