Gary Holst

Gary G. Holst, 78, a resident of rural Eldridge, Iowa died on Sunday, October 24, 2010.

His funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, October 29, 2010 at the Bettendorf Presbyterian Church where Gary was a member & elder. Burial will be at Mt. Union Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Thursday at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home of Bettendorf and one hour before services Friday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Bettendorf Presbyterian Church Endowment Fund.

He was born in Davenport, Iowa on August 19, 1932, the son of William & Pearl (Helble) Holst.

In 1953, Gary enlisted in the U.S. Army and served on the island of Okinawa in the south Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1955.

Gary was a 1960 graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in Farm Operations.

On September 29, 1962, he was united in marriage to Joyce E. Paaske at the Bettendorf Presbyterian Church.

He was a 4 ^th generation life-long farmer in rural Eldridge and was named Iowa Master Farmer in 1996. His memberships and affiliations included the Gelbvieh Breeders of Iowa where he was a director, the National Farmers Organization and the Scott County Cattleman’s Association. In addition, he served as a Butler Township Trustee, was a commissioner of the Soil Conservation Service, was a former 4H leader of the Butler Pacemakers and in earlier years, was a substitute teacher at North Scott High School in Eldridge. In 1989, the Holst farm was named a Century Farm having been in the Holst family for 100 years.

Those left to honor his memory include his beloved wife, Joyce; his children, Connie Holst of Eldridge and Kevin (Jessica) Holst of Eldridge; and his grandchildren, Aviana, Brielle, Cadrian & Denton.

Gary was preceded in death by his brother, Billy; and by his parents.