Barbara “Barb” Holtz, 78, of Charles City, passed away Friday, November 08, 2019 at the 11th Street Chautauqua Guest Home in Charles City.
A funeral service for Barb Holtz will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at Bethany Alliance Church in Charles City with a light lunch following. Officiants of the service will be Pastor Coulter Page of Bethany Alliance Church and Pastor Adam Whitty of Temple Baptist Church. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City.
Visitation will be at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15, 2019 and will continue one hour before the service at the church on Saturday.
Barbara Marie Kock Holtz (née Neir) was born on June 15, 1941 to Marie and Arthur Neir at the family’s farmhouse in Greene, Iowa.
Barb loved growing up in the country. She attended a one-room schoolhouse taught by her aunt, Darlene Heitz, until 6th grade when she began junior high in Charles City. After graduating from Charles City High School, she attended Northwestern Bible College in St Paul, Minnesota for a one-year secretarial degree. She then worked at Youth For Christ in Chicago until her marriage to Darell Kock in 1963. After moving to Homestead, Florida where Darell was in the Air Force, their first daughter, Kathy, was born. After Darell’s time in the service ended, they moved briefly to Cedar Rapids and then to Charles City where their second daughter, Sandy was born. Barb and Darell were a great team and worked hard to build their forever home.
Barb started selling Avon in 1978 and loved becoming part of her customer’s lives. She sold Avon for 42 years and everyone who was a part of her life probably still has a bottle of lotion, Skin So Soft or chapstick in their cupboard. Her compassion and love of people was evident as she worked at the Department of Human Services from 1979 to 2002, and during the years after her retirement when she worked at H&R Block during tax season.
Barb loved people and learned well from her parents that there is always room at the table for one more and that the kids can always sleep on the floor if a bed is needed. She always welcomed extras and strays, and many people over the years experienced Barb and Darell’s hospitality while living at their house for weeks or even months; from missionaries to new pastors to high school kids, student teachers, singing groups, and many others: there was always room at the Kock household. Many wonderful memories were made when friends came over after Sunday night church for games and popcorn.
Everyone who knows Barb knows how much she loved games. No Neir gathering was ever complete without at least a game or two of Rook, but she loved them all – Play Nine, Phase 10, and of course Marbles (lots and lots of marbles…!) She inherited her mother, Marie’s skill and luck at the table as well.
Barb loved to garden, and then of course put up all that produce – canning tomatoes, running the “frencher” for the green beans, and of course – freezing lots of sweet corn. All of the family loved that Iowa sweet corn!
Barb faithfully taught Sunday school, Awanas, and VBS; played the organ, and served as Treasurer for the Women’s Missionary group at Bethany Alliance Church for many years. The girls have many memories of hanging around church on a Saturday morning while Mom practiced, and Dad was changing light bulbs or any of the other 101 things he did. BAC was a very special place for her.
Barb loved to travel, but she loved even more to return home! Since the day Barb married Merlin Holtz on May 21, 2016 in Mahtomedi, MN, they traveled to many fun places including The Netherlands, Branson, Arizona, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Texas, and those trips were great highlights of her life. Merlin took her on many adventures these last few years and brought great joy to her life. They had a great time riding in the buggy on special days like the 4th of July parade.
Barb is survived by her husband, Merlin Holtz; Two daughters, Kathleen (Lyle) Luppes of Rosemount, MN, Sandra (Ayron) Glynn of River Falls, WI; One international daughter, Anna (Ron) Eefing of the Netherlands; Five granddaughters, Amanda (Nathan) Ford of Houston, TX, Jennifer (Timothy) Delnay of Ashland, WI, Elena Glynn of Roseville, MN, Natasha Glynn of Minneapolis, MN and Marina Glynn of River Falls, WI; One grandson, Joshua Luppes of Shreveport, LA; One very special great grandson, Theodore Ford of Houston, TX; Two sisters: Sharon (Norman) Adamson, Ruth (Curt) Nelson; Three brothers Stephen (Helen) Neir, Paul (Karla) Neir and Daniel (Peggy) Neir; One Aunt, Darlene Heitz; and many loved nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Barb was preceded in death by her first husband, Darell Kock; Her parents, Arthur and Marie Neir; One daughter, Jolene Kock; One granddaughter, Danielle Glynn; and One brother in law, Leon Anderson.
Barb loved little children so very much, and the family would appreciate memorials to Hope for Life in Charles City in lieu of flowers.
Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.
