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A few of many happy memories of Steve:

1) Steve always had early tennis practice.  When he returned to the room (while I was still sleeping), he would quickly say "shhhhh" so I would lightly stir and go back to sleep.  It's a practice I adopted, and my family uses with each other to this day.

2) I was a weightlifter with little athletic talent.  I played a bit of recreational racquetball in college and asked Steve if he wanted to play.  He explained he had never played before, so i warned him that I was pretty good.  It never occurred to me that his tennis skills would transfer over so well, and he proceeded to destroy me with a laugh - providing a nice lesson in humility.

3) Steve and I roomed together when the GAC choir toured Russa and Eastern Europe.  He did his reconnaissance on food and brought at least 50 salted nut rolls.  He was right.  The food in Russia in January was horrible, and he was nice enough to share a few with me.

Steve had the rare combination of being a great athlete, a talented singer and a person that enjoyed everyone.  His gentle teasing was disarming and brought joy to our dorm and our choir. I don't know anyone who didn't enjoy spending time with him.  He found a way to relate to everyone and I never saw him angry (except maybe when he was too hard on himself in tennis).

I'm glad he had such good friends with great memories.  I hope you hold a gathering as I would love to go and pay tribute to this special and unique person.

Krister Johnson 320-255-5000

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I somehow missed the news of Steve's passing until a few days ago, and I'm heartbroken. We also just reconnected within the last two years. The memories of our time at Gustavus, especially singing and traveling together still make me smile. Rest in peace, my dear friend. Love to Steve's family--he was very proud of all of you. 

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I somehow missed the news of Steve's passing until a few days ago, and I'm heartbroken. We also just reconnected within the last two years. The memories of our time at Gustavus, especially singing and traveling together still make me smile. Rest in peace, my dear friend. Love to Steve's family--he was very proud of all of you. 

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Chris, Toni, Steve and me a few years back.

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This is hard. We had some great times, nothing but good memories of times spent together. You always had such a contagious, joyful spirit. I’m still processing this, wish we could sing together one more time. 🎶💔

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Steve had a wickedly quick wit, and a smile that really lit up a room. We were very close at Hoover Elementary and only recently reconnected with a lot of old memories as well as “catching up” on FB messenger. He was excited to retire in 2022 and he loved his daughters! Our last exchange was on Halloween, and he was doing great! Until we meet again, Steve, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

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People joke about their “brother from another mother”…Steve truly was mine.  I’m sure when we first became friends that we rang the doorbell at each other’s houses, but I honestly don’t remember it; we always just walked in as though we lived there.  That attitude describes our 40-year friendship perfectly.  We were family.

Steve was a unique and amazing guy.  He would give you the shirt off his back, then make fun of how you looked in it.  As we became friends I quickly learned that Steve flipping you the bird was a sign of affection, and by that measure we were very close indeed.  He was a heck of an athlete; a natural lefty, when we first started playing each other he could beat me in tennis and ping pong playing right-handed.  I remember the satisfaction of forcing him to switch to his left hand, only to have him reward my improvement by beating the hell out of me.

I got a glimpse of the professional Steve years later when he came to Chicago for a Thrivent event and invited me.  He introduced me to many of his colleagues, and every one of them went out of their way to tell me what a great guy Steve was, and what a positive difference he’d made in their careers.  It’s one of my favorite memories of him.  (Of course, as Steve would’ve done in my place, I responded by acting surprised, pointing at him and asking, “That Steve??”)

Steve had many close friends, including several friends from childhood.  Even as we spread across the country and got busy with careers and families, he maintained those friendships.  When he went through dark times, Steve pulled us together and leaned on us in a way that made us all closer…and stronger.  Though we mostly spoke in insults to each other, Steve always let us know how much he cherished those relationships.  His authenticity and love for family and friends were his guiding force; they made him a great husband and father, a wonderful friend, and the best brother a guy could ask for.  What I wouldn’t give for just one more Iowa football game, or round of golf, or BS session over pizza at Pagliai’s.  Heck, I’d settle for one more phone call, one more text about the Hawkeyes.

My heart breaks for Steve’s girls and Joe, and for Marilyn, Kristen & her kids.  Heartfelt condolences from all The Halls--my parents and sisters loved Steve too.  I hope these expressions of love and appreciation from Steve’s friends bring some solace.

How lucky we are, to have had something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

-Haller

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Freshman Tennis Ace Steve Molen wins State!!!!

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Freshman Tennis Ace Steve Molen wins State!!!!

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Steve recently reconnected with me after a 35 year absence. I didn’t realize at the time he was saying goodbye in the way only Steve could do things. He reminded me of all of my best memories of him in a short while.  He put a smile on my face and made me laugh. It was so great catching up on a lifetime of memories and he left me wanting to learn more. Steve was my childhood pal and tennis buddy. He carried me to my only boys state championship. He and his family Ted, Marilyn(sexy) and Kristen made my travels to various towns to watch Steve charm then destroy his tennis competition a joy to watch and participate in. I remember them all very fondly. We both went separate ways and unfortunately did not connect until last week.
Steve never let on that he was hurting directly. It wasn’t his nature to be a complainer. He talked of his wonderful family, friends, daughters, son and grandchild in our brief exchange   I only found out later from other friends how successful he was   How talented he was in music. He concentrated on asking how I was.  The only clue I had to what happened is in the song he sent me Heart Hotel by Dan Fogelberg. I didn’t catch on until I read the lyrics later that week.
Steve affected most that knew him and his message of reconnection and positivity will remain with me forever. Go in peace my friend
Mike Cram

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Steve: A remarkable tennis player and even better friend. 

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Steve: A remarkable tennis player and even better friend. 

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Steve was talented, funny and an all-around great person. I knew of Steve through tennis and he was also my neighbor.
I will be forever indebted to Steve for the countless hours he spent playing tennis with me as a kid. We hit at lessons, played on our own and went to tournaments.  I am so glad he won a State Doubles Title with Mike Cram!
Steve brought a team spirit to an individual sport. I am proud to call him one of my all-time best tennis pals.
My heart goes out to his family and they will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Love-love,
Michele Conlon

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When Ted and Marilyn first came to IC they were our backyard neighbors, who soon became 'family'. Kristin was born then Steven. My family babysat them throughout their years in Iowa City.
Steve was musically inclined as an infant. While laying in his crib or cradle he somehow whistled....and kept doing it!
Later,  became a singer in City High plays, and continued with his group of buddies in the quartet.
Steve would be seen strumming his fingers to music of any type...not only born to play a strong tennis game...music was born into his heart.
He, along with his immediate family and extended family will always hold a special spot in my heart♡ Linda Jean Sexton Fobian

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I’m not sure how to process this.

Aren’t we still young, vibrant, healthy, and invincible? Because even though we’re now middle-aged fathers and husbands with mortgages and bad backs, closer to retirement than graduation, that’s how I still think of us. As Rod Stewart sang, forever young.

But Steve’s not here anymore and I just can’t wrap my head around that. I keep expecting him to comment in our group chats or send a random text asking me about the Hawks or how my daughter's golf game is. He thought it was so cool that she played college golf and I’ll always be thankful for his interest in her progress and how proud that made me feel as her father.

And now he exists only in our minds and memories, where he won’t grow old or sick or have to deal with life’s disappointments; where he’ll continue to mock Marty, harass Jimmy, and demand that we do certain...."things" to ourselves.

Steve was certainly one of a kind. He had the unique ability to make you laugh, push your buttons, and make you feel like his closest friend, sometimes all within the same conversation. I remember how he was seemingly unafraid to do or say something completely random, inappropriate, or unconventional at any given time. In 7th grade, he wore a t-shirt that said, ‘Tennis Players Have Fuzzy Balls.’ It takes a pretty confident 13-year old to wear that shirt. Steve had a strong personality, thought about things just a little bit differently, and could be quite blunt. But regardless of what he did or said, you really couldn’t be angry with him.

I remember the weekend we spent at the church camp outside of Maquoketa putting together our 4th Avenue show in the fall of ’84. We were all showering one morning (we did that back in the old days) and I happened to be standing next to Steve. I made some smart-ass comment to him – about what, I don’t recall – then proceeded to wash my hair. As I stood there with my soap in my eyes, I felt an odd sensation. I rinsed off the suds and opened my eyes to see Steve standing there with that devilish grin he had, peeing on my leg. Typical Steve.

We’ve all had experiences with disappointment and heartache in our lives and Steve was no different. But I know he was incredibly grateful for the support of his friends and for the connections we all maintained through the years, even over long distances. Our game day chats and Zoom ‘Happy Hours’ brought him a lot of joy and I’m glad to have contributed to some of that happiness. I think it’s only human nature to wonder if any of us really make a difference in the world, but I know that we made a difference in Steve’s life, and in the lives of each other. And that makes me happy.

I’ve been blessed with a photographic memory and I’m thankful that much of it is filled with snapshots of good times with wonderful people. They’re like little treasures that I keep stored away behind the random movie trivia and the current location of my reading glasses. Every now and then, when I need a smile, I get some of them out and dust them off. I've been doing that more frequently in the past week or so and I hope, if you're reading this, that you'll take a few moments to reflect on your memories of Steve and share them here as well.

I’ll be forever grateful for Steve’s friendship, just as I am for all of yours. We’ll miss him terribly, but I don’t think he would want us to dwell on that. As Dr. Seuss wrote, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

- Mitch

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Steve, we won't be able to ring another chord together in this life, but the memories we made together will ring on forever.  I'll miss our tag singing and telling me like a T I Z.

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Gmail is email that's intuitive, efficient, and useful. 15 GB of storage, less spam, and mobile access.

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Steve - I miss our laughing together, inspiring talks and texts about singing tags. AND homemade pizza!

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Steve and his daughters Stephanie and Katelyn

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Stephen Molen, age 54, of Howey in the Hills FL, passed away unexpectedly Friday, November 19, 2021, at his home. He was born on July 29, 1967 to Theodore and Marilyn (Turnquist) Molen, in Iowa City, IA.  Steve and Lorie Migliore were united in marriage on October 4, 1999.

A native of Iowa City, IA, Steve graduated from Iowa City High School in 1985, where he achieved all-state recognition in tennis and choir. Appearing in 3 Iowa State High School Boys Tennis finals, Steve partnered with Mike Cram to win the Doubles Championship in 1983. He received a degree in political science and history from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN where he played varsity tennis on 3 conference-championship teams and was active in the Gustavus choir. After college, Steve worked as a tennis professional in the Twin Cities before beginning a long and successful career in financial services, first with American Express and then Thrivent Financial, where he excelled in helping others achieve their goals.

Steve was a loving, dedicated father and husband who always put family first. He enjoyed golf, music, and travel and was a passionate fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes. When not watching the Hawks, he could often be found cheering on the Vikings, Twins, and especially the Chicago Cubs. Steve relished spending time with his many long-time friends, and all who knew him will deeply miss his easy humor, intelligence, boundless generosity, and unfailing loyalty.

Steve is survived by daughters Stephanie Molen and Katelyn Molen; son Joe Hrabe, daughter-in-law Melodie and granddaughter Juniper; his mother Marilyn and sister, Kristin Harbin and nieces Hannah Harbin, Courtney Harbin and nephew Davis Harbin, all of Orlando FL. He was preceded in passing by his father Theodore, wife Lorie, and brother-in-law Grant.

There will be a family gathering held at a later date.  Please post your memories, stories, photos, and videos of Steve on this bulletin board for Steve's friends and family to see.