Sylvester W. Holstein

HOLSTEIN

Posted By: Marthann (email)
Date: 4/17/2007 at 20:12:22

Holstein, Sylvester W.
June 21, 1909 - March 25, 2007
Denison Bulletin/Review
4/12/2007
posted with permission

Pastor Sylvester W. Holstein was born June 21, 1909, the son of Rev. Jacob and Martha Petz Holstein. He was called to Glory on Sunday, March 25, 2007, at the Gold Crest Retirement Center in Adams, Nebraska, at the age of ninety-seven.

Sylvester was born in Martinsburg, Nebraska, and was baptized in Christ in June, 1909, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Martinsburg, Nebraska. He was confirmed on May 28, 1922, at Zion Lutheran Church in Plainview, Nebraska. He grew up in Plainview, Nebraska, and entered the Concordia Seminary of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1929. He graduated and was ordained into the Lutheran ministry in 1934.

On June 21, 1936, he was united in marriage to Victoria Westerkamp at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ruppert, Idaho. The couple made their home in Moorefield, Nebraska, where he served parishes in Moorefield and Curtis. Pastor Holstein also served parishes in Malcolm and Platte Center, Nebraska. In 1949 they moved to Yorktown, Iowa, and in 1953 to Sioux City, Iowa. The couple moved to Denison, Iowa, where in 1962 Sylvester became the first administrator of Eventide Lutheran Home for the Aged. He also served a number of area churches as their vacancy pastor, as the need arose. From 1978 to 1989 Pastor Holstein served St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hanover Township, Charter Oak, Iowa, after which he retired at the age of eighty.

Pastor Holstein was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather to his family. He and Victoria had a passion for missions throughout his ministry. He had numerous hobbies such as fishing, hunting, golfing, as well as rock-collecting, lapidary, and the making of jewelry items from stones he collected, cut and polished.

Pastor Holstein was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one sister, Clara, and four brothers . Survivors include two sons: Jim Holstein and his wife, Wanda, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and John Holstein and his wife, Jodi, of Thornton, Colorado; one daughter, Sylvia Musil and her husband, Gordon, of Gothenburg, Nebraska; twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; many relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 30, 2007 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison, Iowa. Rev. David Loeschen officiated the services and grave side rites held at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens in Denison, Iowa. Organist Mary Kuhlmann provided accompaniment for soloist Holly Smith as she sang "I'm But A Stranger Here," and for the congregational hymns "Lift High the Cross," "Beautiful Savior," and "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Those serving as pallbearers were Rev. Merle Mahnken, Rev. Eugene Ernst, Rev. Kurt Kaiser, Rev. Gordon Buchholz, Rev. David Sewing, Rev. Mark Hansen, and Rev. Paul Frank. Iowa District West Greetings were given by Rev. John Schauer, 1st Vice President, and Gary Thies, Mission Development Counselor. The family invited everyone in attendance to join them for fellowship and lunch served by the Women's Guild. The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of the arrangements.