Jack G. Holdren, 93, Faulkton, passed away Monday, July 8, 2013, at Aberdeen Health and Rehab.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at the United Church of Faulkton, with Pastor Bill Hoffman officiating. Burial will follow in the Faulkton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday July 15, 2013, at Luce Funeral Home, Faulkton.
John "Jack" G. Holdren was born May 13, 1920, on the family farm south of Holly, Colo., to James Terry and Emma Violet (Griffen) Holdren. He attended rural country school in the Holly area.
On Sept. 3, 1940, Jack was united in marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Eva Wauneta Harmon, in Syracuse, Kan. They farmed there for 17 years and in 1962, moved to Wecota. Here, Jack farmed until moving into Faulkton in 1964. Since fall 1968, Jack helped Wauneta with Wauneta's Garden on the north side of Faulkton. In 1970, he went to work for Doc Mills as a vet assistant. He spent several years of his life working as an A.I. technician and freeze branding cattle in every state west of the Mississippi River. Jack, Bill and Cecil were the first to freeze brand using liquid nitrogen and isopropyl alcohol. After "retiring," Jack went to work "with" Jim Melius on Melius Farms.
Throughout the years, Jack was actively involved in the communities he lived in. He was a member of the Bear Creek, Kan., School Board, where he helped design and build their new school. He also was active in the Bear Creek 4-H club, helping bring 4-H buildings to the fair grounds. In Faulkton, Jack stayed busy with the Faulkton City Council. Jack was a dedicated member of A.A. and spent 44 years attending meetings throughout the states and personally sponsoring individuals.
Jack's life will be cherished by his wife, Wauneta of Faulkton; his children: Cecil (Glenda) Holdren of Faulkton, Eva Jo Melius Myers of Faulkton, J.D. (Susan) Holdren of Port Orchard, Wash., Roy (Mary) Holdren of Bloomington, Minn., and Shelbie Holdren of Cresbard; his grandchildren: Jane (Dennis), Janet (Dennis), Jim (Diann), Terry, Jack, Michael (Miranda), Travis, Allen, Mary Ann, Craig, Dale, Greg, Dicie (Shannon), Steven (Kyla), Keia (Miah), Michelle (Mike), Rhonda (Loren), LaFonda (Todd), Wanda, April (Mat), Jacob (Jennifer), Amber (Josh), Troy (Cassie), Brenda (Troy), and Jaclyn (Jess); 39 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; children: Marilyn and Bill; sisters: Lucille Woolum and Rosanna Arnold; brothers: Harry, Earl and Lee.
Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Jack's arrangements.
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