Holzer, Dean Emil 1933-2011
HOLZER, GRINDELAND, KOCH, KRULL, EASON, BOYER, ARMSTRONG, EINCK, STYVE, MITCHELL, GILBERT
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/8/2012 at 14:54:14
Dean Holzer, age 77, of Decorah, IA, died on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at Wellington Place in Decorah, IA.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 2, 2011, at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah, IA, with Rev. Phillip Gibbs presiding. Burial will be in the Canoe Ridge Cemetery, Decorah, IA.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in memory of Dean to the charity of your choice.
Friends may call from 4:00-7:00 p.m., on Monday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah. There will be a rosary at 4:00 and an I.O.O.F. service at 6:00 p.m. on Monday.
Dean Emil Holzer was born August 18, 1933, the only son of Alfred and Myrtle (Grindeland) Holzer in Decorah, Iowa. He was Baptized at St. Benedicts Catholic Church in Decorah. When he was only 6 weeks old, he went with his parents on the road while they worked for Maudlin Construction out of Webster City. He attended St. Benedicts Catholic School for 3 years. He also attended country school through the 8th grade at Dauveney Pleasant #6 in rural Decorah. He later obtained his GED in 1964.He and his parents worked on the road for Maudlin Construction during the spring, summer, and fall months. During the winter months, they stayed with his grandmother, Sophie Grindeland, in Decorah. In 1941, the family moved to the home farm northeast of Decorah on Canoe Ridge Road, where he lived for the rest of his life. When he was 16, he started working at Wapsie Produce in Decorah as a laborer. When he was 17, he started work as a truck driver, delivering and picking up eggs for the Produce. When he was 21, he started working for Fred Carlson Co. in Decorah. He was a truck driver. On November 9, 1956, he married Doris Ann Koch in the Catholic Church Parsonage. They had a reception in the Church basement, followed by a dance at Matter’s Ballroom. In 1957, Doris joined him on the road while he worked for Maudlin Construction out of Webster City, along with his father and mother. He was a bulldozer operator and dragline operator. His first dragline was “Sergeant”, and the second was “Koring”. In 1962, due to a horrific automobile accident, he lost his sight. He then went for rehabilitation at the Iowa Commission for the Blind. After this, he went to the State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND, for 2 years, where he graduated with a 3.95 GPA. While at the State School of Science, he studied machine shop, welding, psychology, math, and business. He would come home on the train from North Dakota on holidays, and he worked in the machine shop for one summer while there. With the training at the State School of Science, Dean started his own small engine repair shop at home. He miraculously could repair any small engine without eyesight. This was truly a love for him, and he enjoyed the work and visiting with his many customers. Dean’s favorite pastimes were tinkering in his shop, visiting with people, and spending time with his family and friends. He had a special talent for meeting a person and never forgetting their voice.
Dean is survived by his daughter, DeAnne (Kelly) Krull of Decorah, and his son, Dwight (Jennifer) Holzer of Decorah; 9 grandchildren - Jesse (Anna Eason) Holzer of Des Moines; Jarad (Katie) Holzer of Cresco; Daniel (Laura Boyer) Holzer of West Union; Amie, Jamie, Tamie, and Shawn Holzer of Decorah; and Nathan and Kelsey Krull of Decorah; and by 2 great-children, Caleb and Dawson Holzer. He is also survived by a brother-in-law, Berchman Armstrong, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Delores Koch, of Decorah; brother- and sister-in-law, Jerome and Norma Einck of Decorah; and a brother- and sister-in-law, Darrell and Judy Styve of Carlos, Minnesota; along with several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; and special friends Merry Hunter, Ellen Neeble, Duane Vine, and Daryl Moen.
Dean was preceded in death by his father, Alfred, in 1985; his mother, Myrtle, in 1996; his wife, Doris, in 2002; his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Ruth (Kipp) Mitchell; Alice Armstrong; Betty (Storm) Gilbert; Patricia Koch; Curtis (Mildred) Koch; and Robert Koch.
He was very much loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database
Canoe Ridge Lutheran cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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