Eugene “Gene” J. Holzer, age 94, passed away peacefully the morning of Saturday, September 9, 2017, with his loving family present at his bedside, in Ashby, MN. He was resident of Minneapolis and Mesa, AZ.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, September 12 at 11, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 210 Broadway Street, Jordan, MN. Father Timothy Yanta will preside. Gene will be laid to rest at St. John Calvary Cemetery, Jordan, with military honors provided by the Jordan Vets Honor Guard. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Gene’s memory to Ashby Living Center. A place he enjoyed life the last year and a half, being taken care of by loving hearts. Gene was treated like royalty here.
Gene was born on December 8, 1922 in Minneapolis, MN, to parents Albert and Anna (Novak) Holzer. He was the younger brother to Glenn. Over the years, Gene’s education was completed at De LaSalle High School, Cornell University, University of St. Thomas and at the University of Minnesota acquiring a degree in Mechanical Engineering. As an ensign in the U.S. Navy, he served as Chief Engineer aboard the Navy Minesweeper, the YMS 299, in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. Gene once received a message from Admiral (Bull) Halsey: “Job well done – Halsey”. After the war, he started Engineered Sales Company in the 1950’s, with his entrepreneurial spirit.
Life was enriched for Gene, when he married Charlotte Mystrom, on October 27, 1944, in Niles, Michigan. In addition to being a loving husband and a wonderful father to eight children, he enjoyed traveling, fishing, sailing, flying, camping and a good game of golf. Gene took pride and joy in seeing his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Forever loved and forever missed by children, Brian, Deborah, Joseph, Cyrene, Vincent, Carole, Leo; grandchildren, Jennifer, Matthew, Rebecca, Jesse, Benjamin, Michael, Brian, Amy, Kristin, Sierra, Gregory, Erik, Danielle, Marcus, Jesse; 17 great-grandchildren; many relatives and friends.
Gene is preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte; son, Gregory; parents and brother, Glenn.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, Jordan Chapel, proudly served and cared for the Holzer family. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
