Arthur David Molke, age 77, of Edina, Minnesota, passed away on January 17, 2018.  Private family services were held at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church with burial at Hillside Cemetery.  Back at St. Louis Park High School we knew him as "David."  But apparently his given name was Arthur.  Who knew?  Perhaps his father's name was Arthur and so he went by his middle name.  We liked him as David.  Dave Molke was a friend to many at SLP. 

Arthur was born in Minneapolis on July 26, 1940.  He is survived by his wife, Mary Helen Molke, three children, Laurence, Kimber and Christopher; grandchildren Julia, Imogen, Astrid Molke, Eric and David Naranjo, Mariel, Helayna, and Margret Molke.

Many of our classmates were shocked to see David's obituary notice in the Minneapolis StarTribune on January 19, 2018, for we had no knowledge that David was in ill health; we have no further information on the cause of his death.

Dave had a very successful career in the insurance business, which was part of the Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG), an international insurance brokerage and risk management firm, headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, with 146 offices in five countries.  Back on June 12, 1995 AJG had acquired BHK & R, Inc., of Minneapolis, MN.  BHK & R, Inc. was founded in 1963 as a privately owned insurance agency serving commercial, personal and employee benefit clients based in the seven county metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul.  We surmise that David joined BHK & R, Inc., during those early years following college.  Using its expertise in risk management and loss control, the agency has since expanded its operations to serve complex national and international commercial operations.  It offers all forms of insurance including property/casualty and worker's compensation administration for self-insured clients.  Its current staff of 44 professionals also provides medical case management, life, employee benefits and personal lines of insurance.  It will continue to operate as BHK & R, Inc., a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. out of the Minneapolis office and a satellite office located in Spirit Lake, Iowa, which was managed and under the direction of Arthur David Molke and the Area Chairman, John B. Van Dyke.  Consequently, Dave Molke had been in Spirit Lake, Iowa, for part of his career, until his retirement.

Dave lived with his wife in Edina in an apartment along France Avenue during the summer and spent winters in Tucson, Arizona.  His quiet demeanor in High School belied his fresh and eager willingness to participate in school events.  He played on our tennis team in his junior and senior years, served on the Echo staff and on Hi -Y as its treasurer, and in the French Club and Student Council.  David Molke was a fine example of a graduate of St. Louis Park High School.