Celebrating the Life of
Molly Lisowski
September 19, 1943 — February 25, 2023
Obituary
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
Services
Reception
Saturday, August 12, 2023, 10:00 am - 11:30 am Central Time
Lions' Pavilion, East Lake Park, Winona, MN
Please join us for an informal celebration of Mom's life with family and friends. We invite you to share a poem, reading, story, or memory if you choose. Light refreshments will be served.
Memories and Condolences
Please share a photo or video, or post a heartfelt condolence to the family.
Seth graduated from high school on May 25. Somewhere Mom is smiling, so proud.
Senior picture
Mom and her mom shopping in downtown Winona
Summer 1958
Mom and Lori win first place for mothers and daughters in the Merrill Hills Golf Championships
Mom and Aunt Ann at Erin's wedding
Mom and Mike dance at Erin's wedding
Mom and Dad in October 1963
Mom and Dad celebrating their 25th anniversary
Who made the batterfried shrimp?
Celebrating milestone birthdays and anniversaries at Lake Winona in 2003. This is another milestone year.
Celebrating Mother's Day together
Remembering Dad on April 11
Schultz family reunion, Winona, 2012
Mom, Gene, Mary, Mike, and Rick at the Schultz family reunion in Winona, 2012
Mom enjoying moules et frites at an outdoor cafe in La Ciotat, a tiny French town on the Mediterranean Sea, December 2015
Mom in Paris, December 2015
Mom and Annick shopping at the Brussels Christmas market, 2015
Seth's first Christmas, 2004
At Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains
Mom and Lori enjoy a walk along the Italian coast near Rome, 2008
Mom and Lori in Rome
Ready for spaghetti!
Mom, who couldn't swim, helping Erin learn to swim
Did you know that Mom was briefly the President's press secretary?
Mississippi River sunset cruise
Molly loved pontooning on the Mississippi. Winona and Sugar Loaf are just visible in the background.
Hello, sisters!
Gene, Mar, Mike, Mary, and Rick at Mike's wedding
Mom and baby Seth, 2004
Julie, Donny, Erin, Seth, Andy, Anika, Amanda, Mom, Gene, Lori in Winona, summer 2021
Seth, Mom, Erin, Donny, Molly, Aidan
Typical brother Gene shenanigans
Can anyone identify the date and reason for this auspicious gathering? It's been a lingering mystery. And who took this fabulous photo?
Celebrating Lori's Ph.D. at Lake Winona
Trying to make Donny a Packer fan
Visiting Bob and Rita in Holmen, WI to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary
Fondue night
Mom with Lori and Aunt Ann
You can't be a Schultz and not play cards!
Mom and Mary on their Rhine River cruise, 2014
Mom and Mary in Hawaii
Looney sisters at the Schultz Christmas in Melrose, 1993
Mom always made Christmas special
Happy birthday pancakes
Suns fans forever!
Packer fans forever!
Mom with Lori and Erin
Mom and Seth
Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of myself and Molly, but I have memories. Thank you Erin and Lori for sharing Molly's life in all the wonderful pictures. Molly was a special friend to many, and I feel blessed to have known her. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to visit with her recently but understood. She will be missed. Bert
Walking Erin down the aisle, March 23, 2003
Mom and Erin in the back yard before the wedding
Erin with Mom an her wedding day, March 23, 2003
Mom in LaCrosse
Mom in her special hat at Ascot
Mom and Dad in Waukesha
Celebrating Pete and Eleanor's 50th wedding anniversary in Arcadia, October 1983
Mom, Dad, and Lori
Mom and Lori
Dad carries Mom over the threshhold
Just married!
The wedding party
The bride and groom at the Cathedral, June 23, 1962
Mom with her parents at their home in Winona
Mom with her mom on her wedding day, June 23, 1962
A newspaper article at the time of the 25th anniversary of Octoberfest
Mom with siblings Gene, Mary, Mike, and Rick
Mom with her mom and Grandma Valentine, 1943
Mom as a baby with her parents
In Spokane with Karl and Rachel
Packers fans on Christmas 2021
Mom and Mary in Goodyear, spring 2021
With Sally, Jeri, and Pat in Winona, summer 2021
In Winona with Rick, Mike, Quin, Dad, Gabe, Gene, and Andy
With Dad, Mike, Gene, and Rick
Enjoying her new chair
Christmas 2022 at Erin's
Christmas 2022 at Erin's
With the whole family at Rita and Bob's, summer 2021
Flowers from Seth for Mom's new home at Montecito, November 2022
Celebrating Erin's birthday in November 2022
At Disney World in 2005
Mom at Ascot
Dear Lori and family, What a lovely tribute of thoughts and photographs you created here to honor and remember your Mom. I’m sorry that you have lost this important source of love, the memories only she could recount, and her deep well of knowledge. My heart goes out to you as you journey through your grief. June Mills
Lori, Erin, Donny and Seth - We are holding all of you in our thoughts and prayers. May you find comfort in knowing that life for Molly is changed, not ended. When our earthly dwelling lies in death, we gain an everlasting dwelling place in Heaven. May she rest in peace. Thinking of you, Lori and Matt
To Lori, Erin, Donny and Seth. I am so sorry for the loss of such a sweet woman. I remember that smile she always wore and how welcoming she always made us teens feel. My thoughts, love and prayers are with you all at this difficult time. May she find her eternal rest and love with Jesus.
Your mom’s passing deeply saddens me. I will miss our lunches talking about our latest aches, world events, and up dates on the family. She loved her family deeply and her eyes would particularly light up when she talked about Seth; he was her heart. Lori, Erin, Donny and Seth, stay strong. My thoughts are with you.
To my dear friend Lori and to Erin and family: I hope your memories of your mom comfort you and lead to many happy and funny conversations about Molly and her accomplishments, passions, quirks, and resilience. I will remember her every time I eat spaghetti because Molly made the best spaghetti sauce in the world! With much affection, Cat
Max and I offer our deepest condolences for your heartbreaking loss and hope happy memories will comfort you. She was lucky to have such loving daughters.
Our deepest sympathy to Lori, Erin, Donny and Seth. Our son Donny was blessed to have Molly for a mother-in-law. She treated him like a son and we are so thankful for that. Rest in Peace Molly.
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