Holdeman, Gideon Edward 1996 - 2012
HOLDEMAN, KLASSEN, JOHNSON
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/30/2017 at 17:36:08
Our beloved son and brother, Gideon Edward Holdeman, was born to Gordon and Gloria Klassen Holdeman on June 3, 1996, in Cresco, Iowa. He died at rural Elma, Iowa on July 7, 2012 in a farm accident reaching the age of 16 years. Sixteen years ago we welcomed our first born son into our home. All his life he spent at Gordon’s side; he always wanted to go with his Dad. He learned at 4 to ride his bike and always enjoyed that. Many times he and his siblings would go biking on the bike trail by our house. Gideon was not outwardly demonstrative, but showed excitement more in his eyes and tone of voice. He was so thrilled to get his first deer a few years ago in youth season. He lived his life in rural Elma, IA except for three years as a child with his parents as missionaries in the Dominican Republic. He received his education at Pine Grove School, Chester, IA. At the age of thirteen, he had a new birth experience and found peace with God. He was baptized June 27, 2010 by his father Gordon, into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, and never wavered from his commitment to the Lord. We treasure the many good talks we had with Gideon going to and from Driver’s Ed. This past month. He was mature beyond his years and was doing well with working through the inevitable questions, both material and spiritual, that come with awakening maturity. Getting his driver’s license this week was a long awaited milestone in his life. Gideon felt great responsibility to spare his Dad in whatever way he could; especially in the last two years as the work of the church increasingly took Gordon’s time. He loved to have cattle and faithfully chored to free Gordon. This past week he bought a few sheep to begin his first real effort toward finding his way into farming. He also was very careful to do all he could to spare his Mom when Dad was gone to meetings. As Gideon got older, he really enjoyed the times the neighbors dropped in to chat. He was happy to pick up a few odd jobs here and there for them. He especially enjoyed his frequent times helping Danny Biwer, a near neighbor. This past week he spent quite a few hours with him and enjoyed the area history and introspective look into the community that Danny provided. It is with broken hearts that we as a family are whispering ”Thy will be done”. We take comfort in his witness to others and his soft spirit. Surely Jesus was with him at his crossing, since we couldn’t be. Those left to cherish special memories are his parents, Gordon and Gloria; one sister, Kara, age 14; three brothers, Theodore, age 10, Benjamin, age 7, and Alden, age 3, all of them at home. Maternal grandparents, Ralph and Karen Klasser, Stettler Alberta; Paternal Grandparents, Clinton and Ruth Holdeman, Elma, IA; paternal great grandmother, Mandena Johnson, Montezuma, Kansas; and many uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.
Cemetery:
Howard Cemetery – Elma , IowaSource: Lindstrom Funeral Home database
Howard Cemetery
Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen