John S. Holtze 1923 - 2013

HOLTZE, MATLOCK

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/22/2013 at 11:31:22

Sioux City Journal
13 July 2013

SIOUX CITY, Iowa | John S. Holtze, 89, of Okoboji, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City, has gone to the Lord Thursday, July 11, 2013, at his residence following a lengthy illness.

Memorial services will be 3 p.m. Monday at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Burial will be in Lakeview Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service Monday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Schuchert Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.

John was born on Oct. 4, 1923, to Harry and Ruth Holtze, in Sioux City. He graduated from Central High School in Sioux City, and attended Iowa State University for one year, where he joined the ZAE Fraternity, before receiving his appointment to West Point Military Academy. He graduated from West Point in 1945 as a pilot and spent two years on Guam and in the Philippines in the Pacific Theater before being stationed in San Angelo, Texas, at Goodfellow Air Base.

It was there that he met and married Julie Matlock in 1949. John then retired from the service and joined his father in Sioux City as a partner in H.S. Holtze Construction Company. His two brothers, H.S. Jr. and David, were all involved for more than 40 years covering the Midwest states. John’s grandfather, Samuel, had come to this country from Sweden and started the company in Sioux City. John served as president of Holtze Construction Company for more than 20 years.

In 1971, John formed Midstates Development Company, a development and property management company and served as president until this past year.

John served as president of the Iowa Master Builders and was a member of Associated General Contractors and served on several of its committees. He was the first board member of Gateway Computers in its infancy, served on the board of directors of Morningside College, Toy National Bank and Norwest Bank, and the Sioux City Country Club. He was president of the board at Trinity Lutheran Church and was a member of the Rotary Club. John had a deep love of his country and a sense of commitment to the Military Academy at West Point and served on the Iowa committee to interview and choose the future West Point appointees from Iowa. He was a lifelong active member of the Republican Party.

John always had a love of athletics and was very active in track and field and baseball as a young man. He was on the track and field team at West Point. And as an adult, he loved playing golf and tennis.

John will be remembered for his honesty and integrity in business and in life, his loving and fun personality and love of his family. And, as a friend recently wrote, "John was a real prince of a man who showed us men how a man should lead his life." He always had a very strong Christian faith. John and Julie loved to travel and enjoyed many wonderful experiences throughout the world together and at home with friends.

Survivors include his wife, Julie; his three children, Dr. John William (Bill) Holtze and his wife, Mary of Des Moines, Robin Mahan of Kerrville, Texas, and Andrea Waitt Carlton and her husband, Rick Carlton of Nashville, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Carla Holtze, Colin Holtze, Bill Holtze, Eliza Mahan, Samuel Waitt and Wesley Carlton; and John’s brother, David Holtze of Sioux City.

Honorary pallbearers are Bud Albertson, Dr.Earl Mumford, Gen. Ed Rafalko, Jim Cravens and his four grandsons, Colin and Bill Holtze and Samuel Waitt and Wesley Carlton.

Donations may be made in John’s name to St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 698 Mills Road Spirit Lake, IA 51360, and West Point Military Class of 1945, 2011 23rd St., West Point, N.Y.