Obituary of Gene Holst

A funeral service for Gene Holst, age 72, of Spirit Lake, will be held Monday, April 21, 2014 at 10:30am at Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Interment will be at Harrison Township Cemetery in May City. A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 20, 2014 after 5:00pm with the family present from 5:00-7:00pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Gene Le Roy Holst was born May 26, 1941 in Lake Park, Iowa, the son of Leonard and Emma (Senn) Holst. Gene was raised and educated in Harris, graduating from Harris High School. Following graduation, Gene entered the United States Navy. Gene served as a "Sea Bee", of which he was quite proud of, until he received his Honorable Discharge. Gene was united in marriage to Karen Schwarting on October 9, 1965 at St. John's Lutheran Church in May City, Iowa. The couple lived in Kansas City their first two years of marriage, and then moved to Everly, Iowa, where they raised their son, Kirk. Gene owned and operated a semi-truck for several years, before operating a body shop. Additionally, he was a buyer and salesman for Sam's Riverside in Des Moines, Iowa. Upon retirement, Gene worked part time for Wedeking Construction, where he drove a gravel truck. Gene and Karen bought a cabin on Big Spirit Lake in 1987, and , upon retirement in 1996, built a home on the property, where they have resided since. Gene passed away Friday, April 18, 2014, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is survived by his wife, Karen of Spirit Lake; son Kirk Holst and his wife Kim of Spencer; grandchildren, Dylan, Emma and Chloe Holst; sister Mary Ann Willemssen and her husband Bill; brother-in-law, Larry Schwarting and his wife, Geneva; sister-in-law, Beverly Heimsoth and her husband, Bob; several nieces and nephews and friends. Gene is preceded in death by his parents, brother, Jim, sister-in-law Roslie, nephew, Bill Willemssen, Jr., and niece, Lori Schwarting.