Holmes, Daniel J. 1951-2005

HOLMES, HELLMAN, GAMBACH, KIESCHNICK, HARTMAN, HANSHAW, GREENFIELD, BYRNES, RIZZIO

Posted By: Debbie Nash - Volunteer (email)
Date: 9/1/2005 at 21:43:08

Daniel J. Holmes
August 31, 2005

Daniel J. Holmes, 54, of Bettendorf, Iowa, was called into heavenly glory on Saturday, August 27, 2005 at Genesis Medical Center, West Campus, Davenport, Iowa after a courageous 15 month battle with Burkitt Lymphoma.

A memorial celebration will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, September 2nd at Grandview Church, 4316 Ripley Street, Davenport. A gathering will be 5-8:00 P.M. Thursday at Weerts Funeral Home, Davenport. Interment will be in the National Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois, where military services will be conducted by American Legion Post #26, Davenport.

The family requests memorials be made to the University of Iowa Foundation for Cancer Research (P. O. Box 4550, Iowa City, Iowa 52244) or to the Fisher House Foundation, which provides lodging for families of wounded service members (1401 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.)

Dan was born March 2, 1951 in Fairfield, Iowa. His strength of character and determination were developed during his formative years as one of the 13 children born into the loving and dynamic family of Charles M. and Jeanette (Hellman) Holmes. He married his childhood sweetheart, Jill Ann Gambach, August 6, 1972 in Fairfield. After graduating from the University of Iowa with a B.S. in civil engineering, he entered active duty service as an Engineer Officer in Germany. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1977, and began his career with the Corps of Engineers as a construction project engineer in Frankfurt, Germany.

Dan transferred to the Rock Island District Corps of Engineers where he has served in numerous positions. In 1981 he earned a master's degree in environmental engineering from the University of Iowa. Most recently, he served as Chief of Construction Division, during which time he deployed to Iraq, serving the Corps, the Army, and his country with honor and distinction. As the Director of Programs Management, Gulf Region Division, Dan contributed significantly to the reconstruction efforts in Iraq and was awarded the Superior Civilian Service Award.

Dan was a remarkably compassionate soul who deeply loved his family, his life, and his Lord. His relationship with the love of his life, Jill, began in the 6th grade. On August 6th they celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. They walked through this life hand in hand to the end, and although briefly separated in body, they will remain forever one in spirit.

Throughout his life, Dan worked tirelessly to support his wife and five children. He was a registered engineer in the states of Iowa and Minnesota, and was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Society of American Military Engineers, and Chi Epsilon engineering fraternity. He was a friend and motivator whose positive attitude and personal resolve has made an indelible and permanent impact on all whose lives he touched.

Dan was a wise father and extremely gifted man whose zest for life was forever evident in his learning, his building, and his traveling.

As a life long learner, he surrounded himself with books of every nature. As a master builder he delighted in creating furnishings for his children and his home. As a traveler he was always on a quest to go, to see, and to learn, stopping at every visitor center along the way from Mount Saint Helen's to Babylon and marveling at every engineering feat from the Golden Gate Bridge to the reconstruction of Iraq.

Dan's greatest joy and passion was spending time with his wife and his children, whether around the kitchen table or on a mountain top. He never ceased teaching them from his vast reservoir of knowledge on everything from whittling techniques, while gathered around a campfire, to the complexities of technology. Memories of hiking through the Rocky Mountains and forging the rushing streams with his rope bridges will forever be cherished. Dan always heartily welcomed into his home all of his children's friends, many of whom he loved as his own.

Those left to honor his memory include his beloved wife, Jill; his mother, Jeanette of Fairfield, Iowa; daughter, Heidi of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, son and daughter-in-law, Brandon and Jane Holmes of Kalispell, MT; son and daughter-in-law, Captain Seth Holmes and Theresa of Iowa City, IA; daughter and son-in-law, Danika and Weston Kieschnick of Southampton, Bermuda; son, Timothy of Iowa City, IA; his six brothers and their spouses, Chuck and Marilyn Holmes, Tom and Marilyn Holmes, Larry and Michele Holmes, Mike and Kelly Holmes, John Holmes, Scott and Heidi Holmes; his five sisters and their spouses, Jeanne and Joe Hartman, Julie and Greg Hanshaw, Jacquie and Doug Greenfield, Jennifer and Bob Byrnes, Joni and Steve Rizzio; his in-laws, Ralph and Geneva Gambach, Ron and Corinne Gambach; and his 39 nieces and nephews.

Dan was preceded in death by his father, Charles Holmes, his brother, Marty Holmes, and his brother-in-law, Bruce Gambach.

The family would like to thank Dr. Zaentz, Dr. Gingrich, and their staffs, as well as the caring people at Genesis West, Genesis Hospice, and the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, all of whom served Dan with professional excellence and compassion. In addition, the family extends heartfelt thanks to each and every one for the tremendous outpouring of love and support on Dan's and their behalf.

Online condolences may be expressed to Dan's family by visiting his obituary www.weertsfh.com.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2005