Gary L. Holloway
September 15, 1944 — February 21, 2015
Gary Lee Holloway was born on September 15, 1944 to Uriah “Scott” and Lucile (Davenport)Holloway in Harlan, Iowa. He attended Irwin School and graduated with the Class of 1962, after which he pursued his dream of farming.
In 1964, he met Cheri Rasmussen and they became husband and wife on December 5th of that year and have been inseparable ever since. They became parents to three wonderful children: Brian, Beth, and Michele, and just celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary.
Gary farmed for many years with his brothers: Junior, Bob, and Fred. It wouldn’t be unusual to see these four in the front seat of a single cab pickup going to a farm sale together. They continued their farming operation until the unexpected deaths of Bob and Fred. Gary still enjoyed farming and moved over to his folk’s farm in 1989.
Gary joined the Army National Guard at Ida Grove, Iowa in 1966. He was activated in April of 1968 due to the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Colorado Springs until his honorable discharge in September of 1969. While stationed there, he and Cheri made several long-lasting friendships.
He began working at Jacob’s Corporation in Harlan and enjoyed his job and many friends there for twenty years.
Gary enjoyed several activities with his children and grandchildren. He and his son, Brian, enjoyed many trips to his sister’s ponds in Lamoni, Iowa, catching tons of fish throughout the years. He hooked and unhooked numerous fishing poles over the years for his grandchildren as they grew up and never once complained. He enjoyed keeping busy watching all the sporting events his eight grandchildren were involved in.
He never once turned down a cold beer with good friends and never hesitated to be wherever there was a need. Gary and Cheri both liked to take off at a moment’s notice and do a little gambling. Somehow, the kids always knew they were at one casino or the other, trying to hit that “jackpot” - but they knew they had already hit the biggest jackpot ever - their family.
He enjoyed golfing, especially the four generation team of Anker, Gary, Brian, and Jake for a tournament they participated in every year. Three years ago, Gary and Cheri purchased a lake house at Lake View and created many great new friends and memories in their new community “Mini Vegas”.
Gary continued to farm the home place until his health forced him to retire in December of 2014. Five short weeks after his cancer diagnosis, Gary died surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the age of seventy years, five months, and six days. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Doris Grabill and Luella Reynolds; and brothers Buck, Tom, James, Robert, Donald, and Fred Holloway.
He is survived by his wife of fifty years Cheri Holloway of Kirkman, Iowa; son Brian Holloway and his wife Jill of Harlan, Iowa; daughters Beth and her husband Steve Nelson of Bennington, Nebraska and Michele and her husband Matt Anderson of Underwood, Iowa; eight grandchildren: Kyle Nelson, Jacob Holloway, Kyle Anderson, Megan Nelson, Kirsten Anderson, Billie Holloway, Kayla Anderson, and Lexie Holloway; sisters Alberta Dreier of Aspinwall, Iowa, Nora and her husband Vernon Campbell of Irwin, and Janice Holloway of Surprise, Arizona; brother Junior Holloway and his wife Dorothy of Harlan; other family members and several great friends.
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In 1964, he met Cheri Rasmussen and they became husband and wife on December 5th of that year and have been inseparable ever since. They became parents to three wonderful children: Brian, Beth, and Michele, and just celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary.
Gary farmed for many years with his brothers: Junior, Bob, and Fred. It wouldn’t be unusual to see these four in the front seat of a single cab pickup going to a farm sale together. They continued their farming operation until the unexpected deaths of Bob and Fred. Gary still enjoyed farming and moved over to his folk’s farm in 1989.
Gary joined the Army National Guard at Ida Grove, Iowa in 1966. He was activated in April of 1968 due to the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Colorado Springs until his honorable discharge in September of 1969. While stationed there, he and Cheri made several long-lasting friendships.
He began working at Jacob’s Corporation in Harlan and enjoyed his job and many friends there for twenty years.
Gary enjoyed several activities with his children and grandchildren. He and his son, Brian, enjoyed many trips to his sister’s ponds in Lamoni, Iowa, catching tons of fish throughout the years. He hooked and unhooked numerous fishing poles over the years for his grandchildren as they grew up and never once complained. He enjoyed keeping busy watching all the sporting events his eight grandchildren were involved in.
He never once turned down a cold beer with good friends and never hesitated to be wherever there was a need. Gary and Cheri both liked to take off at a moment’s notice and do a little gambling. Somehow, the kids always knew they were at one casino or the other, trying to hit that “jackpot” - but they knew they had already hit the biggest jackpot ever - their family.
He enjoyed golfing, especially the four generation team of Anker, Gary, Brian, and Jake for a tournament they participated in every year. Three years ago, Gary and Cheri purchased a lake house at Lake View and created many great new friends and memories in their new community “Mini Vegas”.
Gary continued to farm the home place until his health forced him to retire in December of 2014. Five short weeks after his cancer diagnosis, Gary died surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the age of seventy years, five months, and six days. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Doris Grabill and Luella Reynolds; and brothers Buck, Tom, James, Robert, Donald, and Fred Holloway.
He is survived by his wife of fifty years Cheri Holloway of Kirkman, Iowa; son Brian Holloway and his wife Jill of Harlan, Iowa; daughters Beth and her husband Steve Nelson of Bennington, Nebraska and Michele and her husband Matt Anderson of Underwood, Iowa; eight grandchildren: Kyle Nelson, Jacob Holloway, Kyle Anderson, Megan Nelson, Kirsten Anderson, Billie Holloway, Kayla Anderson, and Lexie Holloway; sisters Alberta Dreier of Aspinwall, Iowa, Nora and her husband Vernon Campbell of Irwin, and Janice Holloway of Surprise, Arizona; brother Junior Holloway and his wife Dorothy of Harlan; other family members and several great friends.
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