Bruce E. Molander, 63, of Elgin, a retired insurance broker and a past chairman of the board of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, died of cancer Tuesday, Feb. 5, in Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin. Born in Chicago, Mr. Molander was a graduate of Schurz High School. He served four years in the Air Force, stationed in part in Roswell, N.M., where he worked as a radar technician. Following his military service, Mr. Molander returned to Chicago and married in 1960. He worked more than 30 years as an insurance agent for Prudential Insurance Co. After moving to Elgin in the late 1960s, he began working in the company’s Elgin office. He retired in 1994. He also owned and operated Valley Agencies, an insurance firm in Elgin. He worked as a broker until he sold the business last year. A longtime board member of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Molander served as chairman in 1999. “He was a gregarious and wonderful man,” said his brother, Richard. Other survivors include his wife of 41 years, Beatrice; a son, John; daughters Renee Hill and Teresa; his mother, Marie; and three grandchildren. A service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Laird Funeral Home, 310 S. State St., Elgin.
