Holtan, Stanford E. (1921-2011)

HOLTAN, SUBY, TWEETEN, HELLER, OLMSTEAD, HADACEK, SINK, WEGHORST, ABEYTA, HODGES, HALVORSEN, HAUGEN

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/19/2011 at 12:35:51

Stanford E. Holtan
January 23, 1921 - December 10, 2011

FOREST CITY - Stanford Holtan, age 90, of Forest City, died Saturday, December 10, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.

Stanford Holtan was born in 1921 to Elmer and Sadie (Suby) Holtan. The eldest of four children, he spent the first few years of his life living on a farm three miles northeast of Leland. The family moved to his grandparent's farm for four years, then to a farm north of Hanlontown. The families have been connected to the Beaver Creek Church and the Winnebago Church.

Stanford graduated from Hanlontown High School. After high school, he attended Waldorf College and St Olaf. At this time, he started his relationship with Immanuel. He sang with the Waldorf Choir the day of the Procession from the old Immanuel Lutheran church to the new building in 1941. Subsequently, he sang in the church choir for almost sixty years. Stanford and Ruth raised their eight children in the church and continued to show their love of Waldorf College in many ways.

In 1942, Stanford enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, becoming a flight engineer on a B-17. Near the end of the war, he knew he was going to have a chance to go home, so he called Ruth on a Sunday and asked her how she felt about getting married the following week on June 25, 1944, right after D-Day.

Following the war, Ruth and Stanford purchased their farm north of Forest City along the Winnebago River. Over the years, Stanford was active in the Farm Bureau, the Republican Party, and the Sons of Norway. In 2000, through their continued commitment to the community, they moved to Heritage Park and embarked upon a new adventure. Stanford worked hard on the trolley, mowing and finding volunteers for the numerous projects. He said many times he was so pleased to be a part of preserving history for the years to come. Throughout his life, he was an artist in many different ways including painting, whittling, weaving, carving, welding, sculpting, and making music.

Stanford is survived by his wife, Ruth (Tweeten), his brother Rolfe Holtan, and his youngest sister Dorothy Heller. Stanford and Ruth were blessed with eight children: Jerry, Audrey, Keith, Phil, Paul, Steve, John and Ron. They also became the proud grandparents of ten grandsons, ten granddaughters, and eight great-grandchildren: Jerry and Donna Holtan, of Ames, Iowa, their son, Jason, and his wife, Jennifer Holtan (Ames), and their sons, Zach, Tyler and Isaac; Audrey and Steve Olmstead, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, their daughter, Sue Anne, and her husband, Tom Hadacek, of Forest City, and their daughters Isabelle and Josephine; Audrey's daughter, Casey, and her husband, Todd Sink (Arkansas), and their daughters, Kylie and Lexi; Keith Holtan, and his friend, Jacalyn, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, his son, Ross, and his wife, Nina (DC), their son, Grant, and his fiancée, Brooke (New York), and their daughter, Jackee, and her fiancé, Matt (Minnesota); Rev. Phil and Merrie Sue Holtan, of Perham, Minnesota, their daughter, Elise (Germany), their son, Dr. Mark and his wife, Dr. Haley (Minnesota), and their daughter, Johanna (Scotland); Paul and Helen, of Savage, Minnesota, their son, Andrew, and his wife, Dr. Sarah, and their baby, Helena (Wisconsin), their daughter, Miranda (Minnesota), and their son, Nicholas (Minnesota); Steve and Donna Holtan of Morris, Illinois, their daughter, Stephanie, and her husband, Paul Weghorst (Illinois), and their daughter, Samantha (Illinois); Dr. John, and his wife, Eileen Holtan, of Love's Park, Illinois, their sons, Luke (Wisconsin) and Dr. Matt (Florida), and their daughter, Emily, and her husband, Ben Abeyta (Wisconsin); Dr. Ron, and his wife, Pam Holtan, of Stanhope, Iowa, their daughter, Kristine, and her husband, John Hodges (Bondurant), their son, Michael (Cedar Falls), and their son, Brandon, and his wife, Amanda (Des Moines).

Stanford was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Sadie (Suby) Holtan; his younger sister, Ardith Halvorsen; his sister-in-law, Marietta (Ness) Holtan; and his daughter-in-law, Linda Haugen Holtan (Paul).

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Monday, December 12, 2011, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N Clark Street, Forest City, and will continue an hour prior to service at the church.

Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City with Graveside Military Rites provided by Forest City American Legion Post 121.

Copyright © 2011, Petersen Lund Funeral Home

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