CHARLES CITY — Bertha “Bert” Holland, 87, of Charles City, is remembered for her adventurous spirit, decades of community involvement and the warm smile she shared with friends wherever she went.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, 1205 South Main St. in Charles City. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until the service begins Friday.
Bert died peacefully at her Charles City home Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026.
Bertha Julia Reed was born Sept. 27, 1938, in Iowa Falls to Richard and Lela Warner Reed. She graduated from Iowa Falls High School in 1956, but her education never truly ended. Throughout her life, Bert eagerly learned about any subject that captured her interest.
She married Martin “Marty” Holland on Oct. 21, 1956, at First Baptist Church in Iowa Falls. The couple raised their three daughters, Donna, Pam and Janice, primarily in Charles City, with a brief period spent living in Billings, Montana.
Bert and Marty were best friends who treasured their family, maintained friendships lasting for decades and loved to dance. Whether it was a waltz or line dancing, they enjoyed getting out on the floor together.
Travel was another great passion they shared. Bert and Marty visited nearly every state before his death in 1995. Bert later completed their goal by traveling to Hawaii, the 50th state on their list.
Her journeys extended far beyond the United States. Bert visited Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Mexico, Canada and destinations around the Mediterranean.
She loved cats, dogs, cardinals and one especially memorable cockatoo. Her appreciation for animals and nature was something she passed along to her grandchildren.
Bert generously contributed her time to the Women of the Moose, Charles City Women’s Club and local elections, where she served as a poll worker for many years. She also served on a board at North Iowa Area Community College and helped shape the Charles City Twisters square-dancing club.
During her working years, Bert served as a bookkeeper for Stan Monroe Sinclair, the Moose and Peavey building supplies. Her favorite position was working as a receptionist at Citizens Bank, where she and her betta fish, Rudy, became familiar and friendly faces to customers.
Bert later helped lead bank-sponsored bus tours across the country with her friend Mae, combining her people skills with her passion for travel. She retired from Citizens Bank in 1991.
Later in life, Bert reconnected with Bob Warner, a dear friend from high school. They became inseparable, traveling together and spending hours playing dominoes. They shared 17 years before his death in 2023.
Bert’s surviving family includes Donna Holland and Ryan Hennings, both of Charles City; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Vernon “Buck” Reed; husband, Marty Holland; daughter, Janice Hennings; grandson, Greg Howe; and longtime companion, Bob Warner.
Additional information and condolences may be found through Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home.
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