Molly Lisowski

Whether she was known to you as Molly, Marlene, or Mar; sister, aunt, cousin, or friend, we honor and remember the woman who was first and foremost, Mom and Nana.

We celebrate the life of a small-town girl from a working-class family in Winona, Minnesota, who became a wife and mother, marrying John in 1962 and having two daughters (Lori in 1963 and Erin in 1973) but who also did so much more than she dreamed was possible.

Mom

• became the first Miss Octoberfest in LaCrosse, Wisconsin in 1961

• traveled across more than half the states, including Alaska and Hawaii, as a tireless advocate for long-term care insurance

• was instrumental in the fundraising and marketing for the new Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee

• with only a high school diploma worked her way into senior positions in a variety of fields and received many accolades from customers and colleagues

• was a finalist for the 1984 WITI TV6 Jefferson Awards given to “average citizens who are performing significant public service to others,” which is but one example of her contributions

• played golf in the Bahamas, wore a special hat at the Ascot Races in England, took the Scavi tour of the first-century excavations under St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, strolled the Christmas markets of Provence, watched the full moon rise over the Eiffel Tower, and cruised past castles on the Rhine River

• raised two daughters who count their success to her life-long love and support

• and since 2004 devoted herself to the love of her life, her grandson, Seth, who will be attending Northern Arizona University this fall on a full-tuition academic scholarship.

Mom/Nana, we love you, we miss you, and we thank you