Donald Lewis Holmes

MADISON - Donald Lewis Holmes, age 76, died on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at Agrace HospiceCare from cancer in both lungs. He had been surrounded by loving family all day, and his wife was with him as he peacefully passed away in the early morning hour. He was born on Nov. 3, 1936 in Mondovi, to Everett Jerome and Eva Amidon Kent Holmes. He was the oldest son and third of seven children in the family. As a child, his family lived in the countryside and he attended schools in Dunlap Hollow, Mazomanie, and Sauk-Prairie High School. He joined the U.S. Army and served in Darmstadt, Germany from 1955 until 1957. In 1959, Donald married Beverly Borchardt and they had three sons, Donald Lewis Holmes, Jr. who died at childbirth, Scott Lee Holmes, and Robert Daniel Holmes. Don and Beverly divorced in 1964, and later Beverly had another son, Brian Earl Holmes. On Sept. 11, 1965, Don married Gail Lynn Poole at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ. They had one son, Gary Lewis Holmes. Don worked at H.F. Kessenich Company, Lindsay Finishes, Foster Insulation, Mautz Paint Company, and Middleton Lawn & Tractor Equipment. With a partner, he started Mid-State Remodeling and painted for Becker and Associates until his retirement in 1998, when Gary took over the business. Don and Gail enjoyed bowling in couples leagues, snowmobiling with family and friends in the Northwoods, camping at their permanent site at Duck Creek Campground in Wyocena where he grilled delicious meals and built bonfires for s’mores, and sharing a unique and surprising turn in his sense of humor. For many years, they were 'regulars' at the Prime Table Restaurant, and shared breakfasts with Scott. Since 1982, many of their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends accompanied them to the UCC’s Moon Beach family camp near St. Germain for memorable times. Adventurous family vacations with Gary were cherished as they traveled around the United States, many times with their pop-up camper. After his heart attack in 1989, Don and Gail traveled extensively, taking an international trip every year. Their travels were some of the best times of their lives since they enjoyed being with each other in exploring God’s world through people, culture, nature, and animal life. In addition to Hawaii and Alaska, they had visited 45 different foreign countries and had been to all seven continents. Their 25th anniversary trip was to Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and Tahiti. The 30th anniversary trip included Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Martinique, Grenada, Venezuela, Curacao, Panama Canal, and Acapulco. South America and Antarctica was the destination for their 40th anniversary including Chile, Cape Horn, Drake Passage, many on-shore excursions in Antarctica, Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil. They have cruised the Inside Passage to Alaska, the Yangtze River, the Nile River, the Panama Canal, the Irish Sea from Wales to Ireland, from Athens around the Greek Isles to Istanbul, the Norwegian and Chilean fjords, the Baltic Sea from Denmark to Sweden and Finland, and the Antarctic waters. Don rode camels in the Sinai Peninsula, played with kangaroos and koalas in Australia, saw millions of sheep in New Zealand, petted reindeer in Lapland, fed butterflies in Martinique, walked among penguins and seals and saw whales in Antarctica. He worshiped on Orthodox Easter in Russia, attended the Moscow Circus and Bolshoi Ballet, visited a concentration camp in Prague, climbed the Great Wall of China, saw the Pyramids and Sphinx in Egypt, and the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. He celebrated birthdays on the way to Fiji, in Cairo and in China. Don was a member of Hope Lodge #17 of the International Order of Odd Fellows and enjoyed fellowship at their banquets. He was baptized and joined the membership of Plymouth Church prior to his marriage. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Gail; his sons, Scott (Mary), Robert, and Gary (Kristy); five grandchildren, Valerie (T.J.) Lee, Stephanie (Jeff) Holmes, Seth Holmes, Melinda Rindfliesch, and Emily Holmes;and three great-grandchildren Antonio, Anjelena, and Valerie Jean Lee. Eleven-year-old Emily was Grandpa’s special delight as they provided childcare since she was a baby. Don is also survived by his siblings, Carol Maly, Dennis Holmes, Pam Zander, Fred (Pat) Holmes, and Faye (Bob) Kaltenberg. He is further survived by Brian Holmes; many nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews; cousins; friends; neighbors; and cats, Taz and Abby. Don was preceded in death by his parents; his infant son; sister, Dorothy Bible; sisters-in-law, June Bullian and Audrey Poole; brothers-in-law, Harold Maly and LeRoy Zander, and his favorite cat, Tiki. Funeral services will be held at PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 2401 Atwood Avenue, at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 11,2013, with the Rev. Jack Hicks presiding. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens, 3054 HWY BB (Cottage Grove Road) with a short graveside service, outdoor military rites being conducted, and a release of doves of peace. Visitation will be held at the church from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, 2013, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Monday. Memorials may be given to Special Olympics Wisconsin, 2310 Crossroads Drive, Suite 1000, Madison, WI 53718-7600 or to Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ. If I am to enter a new time and a new journey, I ask for peace, O God, and a deepening sense of your mighty grasp of me. Amen. Cemetery: Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens, 3054 HWY BB (Cottage Grove Road) with a short graveside service, outdoor military rites being conducted, and a release of doves of peace. Funeral services will be held at PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, 2401 Atwood Avenue, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 11, 2013. Memorials may be given to Special Olympics Wisconsin, 2310 Crossroads Drive, Suite 1000, Madison, WI 53718-7600 or to Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ. Visitation will be held at the church from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, 2013, and also at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Monday.