HOLLIS, Charlotte Marie (Harmening) 1921-2014
HOLLIS, HARMENING, HEINE
Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 7/17/2014 at 17:16:11
December 13, 1921 - January 7, 2014
Obituary for Charlotte Marie Hollis--
Charlotte M. Hollis age 92 of Lawler, died Tuesday January 7, 2014, at Linn Haven Rehab and Healthcare in New Hampton.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday January 11, 2014, at First United Methodist Church in New Hampton with Pastor Candie Carey presiding. Kim Hilgendorf will be the organist for the service with vocals from Blake Hollis.
Interment will be in Faith United Church of Christ Cemetery, Tripoli with McClain Gitch, Ryan Hollis, Blake Hollis, Tom Carolan, Steve Speltz and Joe Speltz serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include Roscoe and Sharon McDonald, Tom and Bernice Britt, David and Janice Byrne, Leo and Bev Dowd, Jim Speltz, Sue Wegner, Krissy Josephson, Mary Markee, Joe Allen and Mary Brinks.
Friends may greet the family 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Friday January 10, 2014 at Hugeback - Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
Charlotte Marie Hollis was born on December 13, 1921, in rural Tripoli. She was the sixth child and eldest daughter of ten children born to William and Mary (Heine) Harmening. She attended Evergreen Country School and Tripoli Community School. Her mother provided a life-long effect on her in developing a strong work ethic, exhibiting extreme dedication and determination, caring and concern for others, and believing in God.
Her early work career included employment at the John Deere Waterloo Tractor Works. It was here where she met her future husband, Keith E. Hollis. They were married on April 15, 1949 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. To this union, two children were born, Mary Kathleen and Michael Keith.
From 1948 thru 1968, Charlotte and her husband owned and operated Holly’s Coffee Shop (later becoming Holly’s Cafe) at three different locations in New Hampton. It was during this time she began catering for several local organizations which included the Lions Club, Rotary Club, B.P.W., the Masonic Lodge, and Past Matrons, as well as catering numerous weddings.
Charlotte also catered meals for the New Hampton Country Club and Plum Creek Golf Course in Fredericksburg. From 1970 thru 1982, Charlotte and her husband owned and operated Holly’s Bar and Grill in Lawler. In 1968, she became the manager of the hot lunch program for the New Hampton Community School System until her retirement in 1985. The “Lunch Lady” as some referred to her, became a familiar face to many of the countless students and faculty that she served.
Charlotte enjoyed her family time and provided an inspiration to her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. She often exhibited that “knack” for relating to the younger children in a thoughtful and teaching manner. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed her time in the kitchen. She also enjoyed quiet evenings tending to her garden and caring for her flowers.
Many of her friends were much younger than her but enjoyed her company as she always seemed to have a zest for life. She could be quick to offer an opinion, but also had a sympathetic and caring nature that people admired. When in public, she was always well-dressed and had a sense for style.
Charlotte was a member of the United Methodist Church in New Hampton.
Charlotte is survived by her children, Mary (Wayne) Gitch of Fredericksburg and Michael Hollis of Nashville, Tennessee; grandchildren, Mischa (fiancée Jon Odell) Gitch of West Des Moines, Karolyn (Mick) Kane of Fairbank, Natasha Gitch of Nashville, Tennessee, McClain Gitch of Madison, Wisconsin, Ryan (Anne-Marie) Hollis, of Waverly, Tennessee, and Blake Hollis of Knoxville, Tennessee; great-grandchildren Kennedy and Adalynn Kane of Fairbank; sister Bernice Ambrose of Fredericksburg, and sisters-in-law Helen Doris Wright of West Des Moines, and Pat Hollis of Waterloo. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and a host of close friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Mary Harmening; her husband, Keith who died on Sept. 16,1986; brothers Wilbert, Louis, LaVern, William Jr., Raymond, and Henry Harmening; and sisters Marion Thomas and Wilma Allen.
Source: Hugeback Funeral Home website
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