Obituary for Walter Holm
WALTER HOLM
With family by his side, Olaf Walter Emanuel Holm passed away peacefully on May 1, 2021, at Rosewood Lodge Personal Care Home in Stonewall, Manitoba. Those who knew him would say it was 94 years well spent.
Walter was kind, caring, calm, hard-working and generous. Born April 5,1927 at home in the Scandinavia District near Erickson, Manitoba, Walter was the third child of six, born to Eugene and Ruth Holm. He was proud of his roots.
From a young age, Walter worked on his family’s mink and fox farm and attended Nedrob School. In 1944, his family moved to Winnipeg where he helped his Dad manage the National Mink and Fox Ranch in Old Kildonan.
In 1946, the family returned to the Erickson area and Walter bought his first piece of farmland on Otter Lake. Back then, he worked the farm with horses until he got his first tractor, a 1941 model V Case – a special symbol of progress and hard work.
Walter was lucky enough to marry his childhood sweetheart, Florence Viola Nylen, on October 25, 1947. They were blessed with three children, Brian Walter, Gerald Frederick and Marilyn Mae. The whole family was involved with the Bethel Lutheran Church in the Danvers District. Walter was the real (but humble) talent – he sang bass in both the church choir and the male chorus.
Besides farming land, the Holm family built up a herd of registered Holstein cattle. Walter was even a school bus driver for some years, and from 1967 to 1971 he was the Farm Supply Manager for the Erickson Co-op. Seriously, what couldn’t this man do.
Walter’s life changed drastically with the passing of his beloved Florence on December 29, 1969, at Minnedosa hospital.
But he found love again. Walter and his family remained on the farm until April 24,1971 – when he married Frances Isabelle Cathers and moved to Grosse Isle, Manitoba. It was a beautiful, blended family – Walter with his three children and Frances with her two young boys, Wayne and Ross. Family and community meant everything to them. If there was a family project or community function, you could always count on Walter and Frances for help.
Soon after moving to Grosse Isle, Walter started working at Kodiak Parking Services in Winnipeg as a lot attendant and later a Service Technician, repairing automatic gates, time clocks and ticket dispensers. He stayed with Kodiak until retiring in 1986, but his love for fixing things never dwindled.
Walter loved restoring antique machinery and vehicles. He also loved hunting, fishing and helping his growing families with their construction projects. He really was a “jack-of-all-trades” and his advice and help was always welcomed.
Surprisingly, Walter was a "homebody" who somewhat reluctantly saw the world. We’re not even sure how many countries Frances got him to go to, but the highlights were Sweden, Africa, China, Israel, Australia and New Zealand. This guy really went places.
But Walter was most comfy tinkering in his garage wearing his classic, navy coveralls, or inside his house enjoying coffee time. There was never a shortage of sweets, buns or cheese on his plate, and you better believe he was sucking on sugar cubes after dipping them in his coffee.
Like we said earlier, his 94 years were well spent - and his quiet, yet friendly nature, made everyone who crossed his path fall in love with him.
It’s our turn to say, “You take care now”. We love you.
Walter was predeceased by his first wife Florence Viola (Nylen) Holm, his second wife Frances Isabelle (Tarn, Cathers) Holm, his son-in-law, Larry Bruce Hudson and his daughter-in-law, Wendy Irene (Bell) Holm. He is survived by his children: sons - Brian, Gerald (Jean), daughter: Marilyn (Terry); stepsons: Wayne (Cheryl) Cathers and Ross (Carissa) Cathers. Grandchildren: Ryan (Wendy) and Shawna (Mike); Bradley (Frankie), Malorie (Andrew); Rebecca (Jules), Cory (Rachel) and Jeff; Erin (Brady) and David; Hannah, Seth, Tess, Amy, Kieran and Kaleigh. Great-Grandchildren: Nicholas, Lily, and Axel; Hugo; Sunny, Starlynn, Selene and Percy; Larry, Charlie, Alex, and Hailey; Jacob, Jewel, Jemma, and James; Lillian and Hadassah.
Many thanks to the doctors and nurses who cared for him and a special thank you to all the staff at Rosewood Lodge Personal Care Home for providing great care. If friends so wish, donations may be made to the Bethel Lutheran Society Inc., to the Rosewood Lodge Personal Care Home in Stonewall or to a charity of choice. Thank you to MacKenzie Funeral Home for making the arrangements. A private family graveside service will follow at a later date.
With family by his side, Olaf Walter Emanuel Holm passed away peacefully on May 1, 2021, at Rosewood Lodge Personal Care Home in Stonewall, Manitoba. Those who knew him would say it was 94 years well spent.
Walter was kind, caring, calm, hard-working and generous. Born April 5,1927 at home in the Scandinavia District near Erickson, Manitoba, Walter was the third child of six, born to Eugene and Ruth Holm. He was proud of his roots.
From a young age, Walter worked on his family’s mink and fox farm and attended Nedrob School. In 1944, his family moved to Winnipeg where he helped his Dad manage the National Mink and Fox Ranch in Old Kildonan.
In 1946, the family returned to the Erickson area and Walter bought his first piece of farmland on Otter Lake. Back then, he worked the farm with horses until he got his first tractor, a 1941 model V Case – a special symbol of progress and hard work.
Walter was lucky enough to marry his childhood sweetheart, Florence Viola Nylen, on October 25, 1947. They were blessed with three children, Brian Walter, Gerald Frederick and Marilyn Mae. The whole family was involved with the Bethel Lutheran Church in the Danvers District. Walter was the real (but humble) talent – he sang bass in both the church choir and the male chorus.
Besides farming land, the Holm family built up a herd of registered Holstein cattle. Walter was even a school bus driver for some years, and from 1967 to 1971 he was the Farm Supply Manager for the Erickson Co-op. Seriously, what couldn’t this man do.
Walter’s life changed drastically with the passing of his beloved Florence on December 29, 1969, at Minnedosa hospital.
But he found love again. Walter and his family remained on the farm until April 24,1971 – when he married Frances Isabelle Cathers and moved to Grosse Isle, Manitoba. It was a beautiful, blended family – Walter with his three children and Frances with her two young boys, Wayne and Ross. Family and community meant everything to them. If there was a family project or community function, you could always count on Walter and Frances for help.
Soon after moving to Grosse Isle, Walter started working at Kodiak Parking Services in Winnipeg as a lot attendant and later a Service Technician, repairing automatic gates, time clocks and ticket dispensers. He stayed with Kodiak until retiring in 1986, but his love for fixing things never dwindled.
Walter loved restoring antique machinery and vehicles. He also loved hunting, fishing and helping his growing families with their construction projects. He really was a “jack-of-all-trades” and his advice and help was always welcomed.
Surprisingly, Walter was a "homebody" who somewhat reluctantly saw the world. We’re not even sure how many countries Frances got him to go to, but the highlights were Sweden, Africa, China, Israel, Australia and New Zealand. This guy really went places.
But Walter was most comfy tinkering in his garage wearing his classic, navy coveralls, or inside his house enjoying coffee time. There was never a shortage of sweets, buns or cheese on his plate, and you better believe he was sucking on sugar cubes after dipping them in his coffee.
Like we said earlier, his 94 years were well spent - and his quiet, yet friendly nature, made everyone who crossed his path fall in love with him.
It’s our turn to say, “You take care now”. We love you.
Walter was predeceased by his first wife Florence Viola (Nylen) Holm, his second wife Frances Isabelle (Tarn, Cathers) Holm, his son-in-law, Larry Bruce Hudson and his daughter-in-law, Wendy Irene (Bell) Holm. He is survived by his children: sons - Brian, Gerald (Jean), daughter: Marilyn (Terry); stepsons: Wayne (Cheryl) Cathers and Ross (Carissa) Cathers. Grandchildren: Ryan (Wendy) and Shawna (Mike); Bradley (Frankie), Malorie (Andrew); Rebecca (Jules), Cory (Rachel) and Jeff; Erin (Brady) and David; Hannah, Seth, Tess, Amy, Kieran and Kaleigh. Great-Grandchildren: Nicholas, Lily, and Axel; Hugo; Sunny, Starlynn, Selene and Percy; Larry, Charlie, Alex, and Hailey; Jacob, Jewel, Jemma, and James; Lillian and Hadassah.
Many thanks to the doctors and nurses who cared for him and a special thank you to all the staff at Rosewood Lodge Personal Care Home for providing great care. If friends so wish, donations may be made to the Bethel Lutheran Society Inc., to the Rosewood Lodge Personal Care Home in Stonewall or to a charity of choice. Thank you to MacKenzie Funeral Home for making the arrangements. A private family graveside service will follow at a later date.