Obituary of Allan Francis Molgaard

Allan Francis Molgaard, 91, of Las Vegas, Nevada passed away on April 30, 2020. Allan was born in Chicago, IL on November 1st, 1928, All Saints' Day. He grew up in Milwaukee, WI with his parents and brother. He earned a scholarship to Marquette University where he studied history and played football, earning the 1950 MacCahill Student Athlete Award from Marquette given for the highest performance in scholarship, leadership and athletics. Al served as a teacher in the US Army during the Korean War. Although he didn't consider himself a "real veteran" since he only served stateside, he finished as a Sergeant 1st Class. Allan married Catherine Jane Fitzsimons in 1952, who passed away in 1994. They moved to Southern California and raised four children. Al was then introduced by mutual friends (from the Kansas City crowd) to Mary Ellen Blank Pfaffinger. Both widowers with no time to lose, they married seven months later in 1997. Mary Ellen, who passed away in 2013, had eight children: Jean (Roland Tcheng), Paul (Anne), Julie (David Olds), Luke (Julie), Lara (Eric Blanco), Amy, Mark (Joyce), and Beth (Chris Gentry). Allan worked for State Farm Insurance for 35 years. He golfed from age 12 to 88, taught religious education, umpired baseball games, and volunteered with many charities. As kids grew up and he had some free time, it was usually spent with friends playing bridge and poker, or reading a historical biography while listening to classical music. Allan is survived by his children, chief caregiver Catherine Jane and her spouse Greg Wilcox; Christopher Peter and his spouse Jayne Doherty; Anne Cecile and her spouse Michael Kisslinger, deceased. Allan is survived by his grandchildren Morgan Hailey, Kathleen Anne, Andrew Francis, Zane Allan, and Aleyna Clare, as well as Matthew, Emily, Megan, Michael, Lisa, Dana, Jack, Cooper, Riley, Quin, Gavin, Kiran, Jesse, Jackie, Drew, Jacob, and Rachel. He is predeceased by his parents, Hilda Kuhlman Molgaard and Adolph Peter Molgaard, his brother Donald A. Molgaard, his son, Mark Kinzie (Cara Waller), his wife Jane, and his wife Mary Ellen. The family will have a gathering after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Donations in Al's name are appreciated. Al was an active supporter, volunteer and donor to many groups, two of which are: the new Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Las Vegas; and the St. Vincent de Paul Society, ending poverty through systemic change at www.svdpusa.org.