John Henry Holley

HOLLEY, GOERL, MOSER

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 7/21/2010 at 17:45:56

John Henry Holley loved his family, the circus and practicing law.

John, 83, died Saturday, Aug. 25 of natural causes at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly where he had lived since early July.

He was born on Sept. 20, 1923, in Carroll, Iowa, to Will and Louise (Goerl) Holley.

John attended school in Carroll, graduating from Carroll High School in 1941. He then attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids before entering the U.S. Army during World War II, where he served in Europe. Following his discharge from the Army, he returned to Coe, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He then attended the University of Iowa law school, where he graduated and passed the Bar in 1950.

John married Colleen Moser in Iowa City on Oct. 23, 1948. The couple moved to Shell Rock in 1950 where he practiced law for more than 40 years. In the Shell Rock area, John was active in many civic and professional organizations. He served as Butler County attorney, Shell Rock city attorney, New Hartford city attorney, was a charter member and past president of the Shell Rock Lions Club, a member of the American Legion and a life member of the Masonic Lodge. John was also instrumental in the development of the Boyd Community Building in Shell Rock and the formation of the Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District.

The circus was John’s life long hobby and the source of many lasting friendships. He was a 50-year member and past national president of the Circus Fans Association of America and a member of the Circus Historical Society.

John is survived by his wife, Colleen, of Shell Rock; three sons, Paul (Kathy) of Racine, Wis.; Robert (Heidi) of Newton; and Chuck (Patty) of Maryville, Mo., and five grandchildren, Emily Holley of Iowa City, Anna Holley of Indianola, Allison and Dwight Holley of Racine, Wis., and Michael Holley of Maryville, Mo.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28 at the Shell Rock United Methodist Church with the Rev. Daryl Pals and the Rev. Keith Tomlinson officiating.

The family will greet friends at Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Shell Rock from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27.

Memorials may be directed to the Lions Club Iowa Kids Sight Project or the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community Chaplaincy Fund.