Charles City, Iowa:
When you think of a man whose handshake felt like a promise and whose smile could steady a room, you think of Mike Molstead. Whether you met him in the showroom of Mike Molstead Motors, on the bleachers of a UNI football game, or in the barber’s chair where he faithfully sat every other week, Mike had a way of making people feel like family. He didn’t just live in Charles City, Iowa—he helped build its heartbeat through his faith, kindness, and unshakable loyalty to the people around him.
Born in Waterloo, Iowa, and a proud graduate of Reinbeck High School, Mike carried his small-town values wherever he went. At the University of Northern Iowa, he played football, forged lifelong friendships, and earned a reputation for grit and determination—qualities that would define his life as a businessman, husband, father, and friend.
After college, Mike built more than a career; he built a legacy. As the founder and president of Mike Molstead Motors, he transformed his dealership into more than just a place to buy cars. It became a gathering place, a community hub, and a living example of how leadership grounded in faith and love can inspire countless lives. To his employees, he wasn’t just a boss—he was “Mikey Mo,” a mentor who combined tough love with genuine care. As one colleague reflected, “He showed me how to be not just a better worker, but a better person.”
Mike’s story, however, is inseparable from his faith and his family. Married to his beloved wife, Paula, for decades, Mike lived out the word “faithful” in the fullest sense. Their partnership was rooted in love, devotion, and the joy of raising children who have gone on to embody the same kindness, generosity, and strength that defined their father. His children and grandchildren were his pride and joy; no accomplishment at the dealership or in the community ever meant more than the simple pleasure of cheering them on, supporting their dreams, and telling anyone who would listen how proud he was.
His barber of nearly twenty years remembers how Mike would settle into the chair every two and a half weeks like clockwork. They’d talk about life, kids, faith, and the world’s problems—and often laugh about solving them all in under an hour. One of the last things Mike said during a haircut was, “Make sure I look good, kid.” It was vintage Mike: a touch of humor, a hint of pride, and a quiet dignity that never needed loud words to make its point.
Mike’s generosity stretched beyond his family and business. He supported causes close to his heart, including sponsoring the American Cancer Society’s Hockey Fights Cancer with the Waterloo Black Hawks. He opened his dealership for community events and was the first to say yes when asked to uplift voices that needed to be heard. He lived his faith not by words but by actions—steady, humble, and full of heart.
For more than 25 years, Mike lived with lung cancer. But to say he “lost” his battle would be wrong. Cancer never defined him, and it certainly never won. He fought with courage, grace, and humor, showing up for his loved ones and his community until the very end. As friends have said, “He smiled when it hurt, he loved when it was hard, and he lived with strength and grace.” His faith carried him through, and now, at last, he rests free from pain.
On September 8, 2024, at about 4 p.m., surrounded by Paula and their family, Mike’s earthly journey came to a close. He leaves behind not only his wife, children, and grandchildren, but also an extended family of friends, colleagues, teammates, and community members whose lives are better because they knew him.
Mike’s legacy is not just the dealership that bears his name or the accomplishments listed on paper—it is the quiet reassurance he gave to a friend, the encouragement he offered to a parent, the pride he carried for his family, and the faith that never wavered.
To those who knew Mike, his life is a story of faith, family, and love in action. To those who didn’t, his legacy still shines in the community he helped shape.
We invite friends, colleagues, and community members to share their memories and stories of Mike in the comments below. Your words will not only honor his life but also bring comfort to his family as they navigate this difficult time.
Rest easy, Mike. You’ve run your race with faith and strength—and you did, indeed, “look good.”