Louis "Lou" Molnar

1936 - 2025

Louis R. "Lou" Molnar, 89, of Sebring, Florida (formerly of Arcadia, FL; Madison and Windsor, WI), passed away peacefully on June 17, 2025, at Advent Hospital in Sebring.

Born on April 6, 1936, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Lou was the son of Julia Ann Uveges and Louis Molnar. He graduated from Perth Amboy High School with the Class of 1954 and soon after enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Lou served honorably for four years before being discharged in 1958.

Lou is survived by his wife, Sherri; his daughter Marjorie Ripp of Sarasota, FL; and his daughter-in-law Kim of Cross Plains, WI. He is also survived by his four sons: Dale (Julie) of Deforest, WI; Ronald of Mount Pleasant, WI; William of Arcadia, FL; and Andrew (Krisann) of Wilmington, NC. Lou leaves behind five grandchildren: Joshua (Sherree), Taran (Katy), Elizabeth, Ryan (Meagan), and Racheal; as well as four great-grandchildren: Kasidy, Brody, Brooklyn, and Kashtyn. He is further survived by his niece Susan; nephews Vito and Samuel; the extended Rogers and Yapp families; and numerous close friends in Wisconsin and Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Joan; his son Matthew (Kim); his great-grandson Hayden; and his sister Arlene (Sandy).

Lou's passion for aviation began early. In 1958 he became a Licensed Private Pilot and went on to earn certification as a Flight Instructor-Instrument in 1961. He spent many years teaching flight training and Aeronautics Ground School at Four Lakes Aviation and the Jet Room, helping over 300 students pursue their dreams of becoming pilots.

Following his military service, Lou worked for RCA Corporation in its Missile and Surface Radar Division servicing military radar antennas across the country. He later traveled internationally as a Machine Balancer Technician for Gisholt Machine Corporation.

In 1971, Lou began a distinguished career in law enforcement with the Dane County Sheriff's Department while also serving part-time with the Sun Prairie Police Department. Over the years he held roles as Deputy Sheriff, Detective, and Crime Scene Investigator.

On January 15, 1988, Lou's life was forever changed when he confronted a gunman during one of the nation's earliest mass shootings at the City-County Building in Madison. The incident resulted in four people being shot-two fatally-including one of Lou's closest friends. Lou's courageous actions that day stopped the gunman from carrying out further violence. For his bravery, he was awarded the Medal of Valor by the Dane County Sheriff's Department later that year.

The trauma from that day had lasting effects on Lou. Diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, he retired from law enforcement within 18 months. Determined to support others facing similar challenges, Lou helped establish "Cops Helping Cops" in 1990 alongside fellow officers and counselors from the Madison Vet Center. This pioneering support group provided critical incident management resources to law enforcement personnel and their families throughout Wisconsin and beyond for nearly two decades.

"Cops Helping Cops" conducted trainings at police departments and academies across the country. One of Lou's favorite events was coordinating food service for the annual Madison Police Memorial Service and Picnic-a role that fostered lifelong friendships with members of local law enforcement as well as federal agencies including ATF, FBI, DEA, and DOJ.

Today many critical incident response teams nationwide continue to use best practices developed by "Cops Helping Cops," a testament to Lou's enduring impact on officer wellness and peer support.

In addition to his Medal of Valor, Lou received numerous commendations from various agencies recognizing his heroism on what he often called his "Darkest Day." Over the years, many who were present during that tragic event continued to express their gratitude for his courage.

In 1996, Lou and Sherri relocated to Arcadia, Florida where they lived for 27 years before moving to Sebring in 2023.

Lou remained deeply committed to public service throughout his life. He volunteered as a firefighter with both the Blooming Grove and Windsor Fire Departments and continued serving through organizations like the Civil Air Patrol and Coast Guard Auxiliary.

A man with a generous heart and unwavering sense of justice, Lou was known for standing up for those in need. He had a soft spot for animals-especially stray cats-and gave many a loving home.

Lou enjoyed flying planes, watching World War II films, traveling, fishing, swimming, scuba diving, boating, water skiing, camping, savoring oysters on the half shell, and sipping Amber Bock beer at the Blue Lagoon. He cherished time spent boating with family on Madison's lakes-especially anchoring at "The Cove" on Lake Mendota regardless of weather.

He was an active member of numerous professional organizations including: Dane County Deputy Sheriffs Association; Wisconsin Professional Police Association; Wisconsin Law Enforcement Association; Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial; National Association of Law Enforcement Memorial; Concerns of Police Survivors; Florida Sheriffs Association; American Academy of Forensic Sciences; International Crime Scene Investigators Association; American Legion; AmVets; Disabled American Veterans; Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; Quiet Birdmen; Coast Guard Auxiliary; Civil Air Patrol; Professional Pilots Association; Wisconsin Pilots Association; Flight Safety Foundation; and Sebring Hills Association.

A devoted fan of both the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers, Lou took pride in cheering on his favorite teams.

A memorial service honoring Louis R. Molnar with Law Enforcement and Military Honors will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at The Eastside Club located at 3735 Monona Drive in Monona, WI 53716. Visitation will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., followed by services from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., with a luncheon from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

May Louis R. Molnar's legacy of courage, compassion, and service continue to inspire all who knew him.