Obituary for John Henry Holtmann
John (“Jack”) Henry Holtmann slipped into eternal rest peacefully on October 16, 2022, after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Anglum and Florence Ann (Glatz) Holtmann, and brother, James Joseph Holtmann.
Jack is survived by his four children: John (wife Anne), Lyn, David (wife Molly), and Beth (husband Larry Lee). He is also survived by his ten grandchildren: Alexa (husband Philip Schuchardt), Maggie, Madelyn, Elle (husband Andrew Mais), Max, Lydia, Peter, Kirsten, Anna, and Jenae. He was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Poppy and George Mais. He is also survived by his former wife and best friend, Virginia Smithberg, and her husband, John Smithberg, with whom he shared a special relationship.
Jack was born in St. Louis, MO, on March 1, 1938. His future wife was born one day later on March 2, 1938, and lived two blocks away. They attended St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church and grade school together in Brentwood, MO. As a youngster, Jack developed a work ethic mowing yards with a manual push mower. As a teenager, he worked at Schnucks grocery stores in St. Louis as a bagger and then eventually in other positions of increasing responsibility. He enjoyed telling stories of mowing the yards of Don and Ed Schnucks – the two brothers who founded Schnucks. He met Jerry Bettlach, founder of Harter House Supermarkets in Springfield, MO, while at Schnucks. They maintained a lifelong friendship until Jerry’s untimely passing.
Jack eventually moved to Springfield, MO, to marry his childhood sweetheart, Virginia Hall. In Springfield, Jack began a 30-year career at the Springfield News-Leader. Starting in the stereotype department, he ended up being the pressroom supervisor for both the day and night shifts. He retired in 1993 from the Springfield News-Leader.
Jack’s work ethic was boundless. He always worked on the family home, single-handedly finishing the upstairs, pouring the concrete driveway, building a carport … a string of endless home improvement projects! Jack also supplemented his income by doing home repair and improvement projects for others. Well into his 60s, he helped his children with their own projects by finishing basements, building swing sets, etc. He always wanted to be doing something constructive.
Jack was a very religious man, attending St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield since 1965. Always offering to volunteer, he was the head usher for many years, arriving at church at 5 AM on Sundays to open the facilities and prepare things for the first Mass. Jack also prayed the Rosary daily – most days, multiple times. As he grew older and could not physically assist his family, he would offer up prayers. Always one to keep an eye on the weather channel, he would often call his children long before storm warnings would begin warning them of potential inclement weather!
Of most importance to Jack, however, was his family. He loved to talk about his children and grandchildren and their accomplishments. He was especially proud of his grandchildren achieving great success in medicine, engineering, and business. He often joked he didn’t have the “smarts for college” and yet he was always the “go to” source for plumbing, electrical, or mechanical issues any of us might have had at the moment. He would always find a way to get the job done!
Jack enjoyed fishing with his sons, BBQing, celebrating family events, having a beer or two, and being around others. Later in life, he made a point to send birthday cards to family members and friends until his eyesight prevented him from doing so. His gifts of money and M&Ms to all of his children and grandchildren at Christmas will be missed! As the family elder statesman, he was in charge of wearing the Santa hat and handing out gifts! Jack’s many friends included neighbors, fellow ushers and church members, Ziggie’s breakfast buddies, and others too numerous to mention.
Finally, we would be remiss not to mention his extended family of cousins, nieces, and nephews. Jack was blessed to have grown up with a loving extended family. His cousins, Carolyn, Gloria, Janine, Vicki, Vince, Kathleen and Delores, all played a great part in his life. Additionally, he enjoyed a special relationship with his niece and nephew of his deceased brother, Jim, and their spouses, Jenny and Dave and Jim and Kari.
Jack was blessed with a long life, a loving family and many friends. Now he is reunited with his family and friends in Heaven.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in honor of Jack and may be sent to: St. Agnes Cathedral, 533 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65806 or at https://www.sta-cathedral.org/.
A Visitation will be held from 9:30am -10:30am on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at St. Agnes Cathedral, 533 S. Jefferson Avenue in Springfield, Missouri.
John's Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30am, following the Visitation, in St. Agnes Cathedral with Msgr. Thomas Reidy officiating. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, (4677 W. Division St., Springfield, MO 65803).
Reception: Immediately following the Graveside Service at St. Agnes Grade School cafeteria. All are invited to attend.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.
Jack is survived by his four children: John (wife Anne), Lyn, David (wife Molly), and Beth (husband Larry Lee). He is also survived by his ten grandchildren: Alexa (husband Philip Schuchardt), Maggie, Madelyn, Elle (husband Andrew Mais), Max, Lydia, Peter, Kirsten, Anna, and Jenae. He was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Poppy and George Mais. He is also survived by his former wife and best friend, Virginia Smithberg, and her husband, John Smithberg, with whom he shared a special relationship.
Jack was born in St. Louis, MO, on March 1, 1938. His future wife was born one day later on March 2, 1938, and lived two blocks away. They attended St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church and grade school together in Brentwood, MO. As a youngster, Jack developed a work ethic mowing yards with a manual push mower. As a teenager, he worked at Schnucks grocery stores in St. Louis as a bagger and then eventually in other positions of increasing responsibility. He enjoyed telling stories of mowing the yards of Don and Ed Schnucks – the two brothers who founded Schnucks. He met Jerry Bettlach, founder of Harter House Supermarkets in Springfield, MO, while at Schnucks. They maintained a lifelong friendship until Jerry’s untimely passing.
Jack eventually moved to Springfield, MO, to marry his childhood sweetheart, Virginia Hall. In Springfield, Jack began a 30-year career at the Springfield News-Leader. Starting in the stereotype department, he ended up being the pressroom supervisor for both the day and night shifts. He retired in 1993 from the Springfield News-Leader.
Jack’s work ethic was boundless. He always worked on the family home, single-handedly finishing the upstairs, pouring the concrete driveway, building a carport … a string of endless home improvement projects! Jack also supplemented his income by doing home repair and improvement projects for others. Well into his 60s, he helped his children with their own projects by finishing basements, building swing sets, etc. He always wanted to be doing something constructive.
Jack was a very religious man, attending St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield since 1965. Always offering to volunteer, he was the head usher for many years, arriving at church at 5 AM on Sundays to open the facilities and prepare things for the first Mass. Jack also prayed the Rosary daily – most days, multiple times. As he grew older and could not physically assist his family, he would offer up prayers. Always one to keep an eye on the weather channel, he would often call his children long before storm warnings would begin warning them of potential inclement weather!
Of most importance to Jack, however, was his family. He loved to talk about his children and grandchildren and their accomplishments. He was especially proud of his grandchildren achieving great success in medicine, engineering, and business. He often joked he didn’t have the “smarts for college” and yet he was always the “go to” source for plumbing, electrical, or mechanical issues any of us might have had at the moment. He would always find a way to get the job done!
Jack enjoyed fishing with his sons, BBQing, celebrating family events, having a beer or two, and being around others. Later in life, he made a point to send birthday cards to family members and friends until his eyesight prevented him from doing so. His gifts of money and M&Ms to all of his children and grandchildren at Christmas will be missed! As the family elder statesman, he was in charge of wearing the Santa hat and handing out gifts! Jack’s many friends included neighbors, fellow ushers and church members, Ziggie’s breakfast buddies, and others too numerous to mention.
Finally, we would be remiss not to mention his extended family of cousins, nieces, and nephews. Jack was blessed to have grown up with a loving extended family. His cousins, Carolyn, Gloria, Janine, Vicki, Vince, Kathleen and Delores, all played a great part in his life. Additionally, he enjoyed a special relationship with his niece and nephew of his deceased brother, Jim, and their spouses, Jenny and Dave and Jim and Kari.
Jack was blessed with a long life, a loving family and many friends. Now he is reunited with his family and friends in Heaven.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in honor of Jack and may be sent to: St. Agnes Cathedral, 533 S. Jefferson, Springfield, MO 65806 or at https://www.sta-cathedral.org/.
A Visitation will be held from 9:30am -10:30am on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at St. Agnes Cathedral, 533 S. Jefferson Avenue in Springfield, Missouri.
John's Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30am, following the Visitation, in St. Agnes Cathedral with Msgr. Thomas Reidy officiating. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, (4677 W. Division St., Springfield, MO 65803).
Reception: Immediately following the Graveside Service at St. Agnes Grade School cafeteria. All are invited to attend.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.