Allen "Pappy" Louis Gonsorowski

Allen Louis Gonsorowski, fondly known as "Pappy," age 75, of Cuenca, Ecuador, passed away unexpectedly on June 27, 2024. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, September 27, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 218 10th Street S, Moorhead, MN, 56560. Following the service, a time of fellowship will take place at Lindenwood Rotary Shelter, 1905 Roger Marris Dr., Fargo, ND 58103. Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home, Breckenridge, MN, is assisting the family with coordinating the services for Allen.

Allen was born on January 22, 1949, in St. Paul, MN, to Florian and Martha Gonsorowski. Not long after, the family moved to the Grand Forks area where his parents built their family business. Al was shaped by his parents' values, growing into a man known for his hard work, sense of adventure, and big-hearted kindness - gifts he shared as he always made new friends wherever he went.

As a young boy, Al’s love of sports and can-do attitude took hold. He built a nice little business for himself on Saturdays at the Chiefs games, shagging foul balls and selling them back to the club for twenty-five cents apiece. Looking for an outlet for his gregarious personality, he took a shot at acting one year and came home with the lead role in the school play. He devoted himself to baseball and track, became a record-setting long jumper at East Grand Forks High School while making lifelong friends.

After graduating from EGF High in 1967, Al headed to MSU Moorhead and earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. His knack for striking up conversations with just about anyone served him well during his career, from writing to art direction and teaching. Al chronicled the local sports scene for nearly 20 years at the Fargo Forum, penning many remarkable stories. He was always fond of a piece about local Olympian Cliff Cushman, who fell in his last race at the 1964 Olympic trials costing himself a shot at gold. Al highlighted Cushman’s subsequent inspirational message to the youth of Grand Forks, “character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us…I dare you to unselfishly help someone less fortunate than yourself and enjoy the feeling that goes with it.”. Al often quoted the letter, and it shaped how he approached life—with grit, hope, and a heart for helping others.

Alongside his journalism career, Al always found his way back to the ballfield, serving as a baseball and softball umpire for over 40 years, traveling around the country calling balls and strikes with his signature “ouuuuuuut” cry.

Al married Robin (Perman), and together they raised Tyson and Kai. He loved his time with his children and grandchildren. He would share a love of fishing the Minnesota lakes with Tyson and would become a fixture at Kai’s track meets and volleyball matches. He even tried to attend some classes at Penn, only to find out that not all college courses could be audited! Al and Robin later moved to Colorado, where Al's love of travel blossomed. He roamed the U.S. and South America, falling for Cuenca, Ecuador, where he eventually settled in 2022. Al became known there as the friendly gringo who gave apples to bus drivers, cookies and other sweets to kids, and fresh pairs of sneakers to locals in need. He traveled the country by bus, snapping pictures and making friends until his very last day. 

On June 27, 2024, Al was called to his heavenly home. He will be dearly missed by his children, Tyson Gonsorowski and Kai Peters (Michael); grandchildren, Teddy and Quinn Peters; siblings, Dale (Duanna), Marlene (John), and Glen; and a whole lot of family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Florian and Martha Gonsorowski.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorials be made in Al’s name to The Fargo Park District Foundation (https://app.givingheartsday.org/#/charity/1499), where he spent countless hours umpiring softball. The next time you’re at Anderson Softball Complex, look for a new bench dedicated to Al and remember him with a smile.