Irvin N Holtan

Irvin Nordean Holtan, 91 died on January 6, 2011 in Oklahoma City, OK. A memorial service is scheduled at Mt. Franklin Baptist Church in El Paso, Texas on Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 3:00 PM. Stories, jokes, photos and praises to the Lord will be welcomed. Irvin was born on February 23, 1919 in Hayfield, Minnesota to Gilbert O and Ella Sophia Jacobson Holtan. He was christened at Trinity Lutheran Church, located in Hayfield, Minnesota. He was raised on a farm in the same vicinity where he attended school until the eighth grade. On December 28, 1940 he married Lois Margaret Lang in Trinity Lutheran Church, Hayfield, Minnesota. They were married for 61 year until her death on November 30, 2001 in El Paso, TX. After the start of World War II, he served in the US Army and volunteered to become a paratrooper. As a mortar man in D Troop of the 507th Regiment, he jumped into combat in Normandy, France with the 82nd. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and jumped into combat across the Rhein River in Operation Varsity, in Wesel, Germany both while serving with the 17th Airborne Division. His unit was also briefly attached to the 101st. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal, the Distinguished Unit Citation Badge. Irvin was very proud of capturing a German soldier during the Normandy Invasion, even though his rifle was empty at the time. He returned to the States after the war, he used the G.I. Bill to return to the classroom in El Paso, TX. After completing the classes he went to work for and later retired from the El Paso Electric Company first as a machinist and later maintenance supervisor at the Rio Grande Power plant. Irvin was able to return to Normandy, France for the 25th, 45th, 49th, 50th and 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion. Irvin was active member of Mt. Franklin Baptist Church where he was a deacon, Sunday School leader and teacher and Royal Ambassador leader. He was also attended Grandview Baptist Church. Irvin was a proud member of the Benavidez-Patterson "All Airborne" Chapter, El Paso, Texas. He a general handy man and was always ready to help friends and family in need. On July 4, 2004 Irvin married Delores Roselyn Rapp Holtan, at Mt. Franklin Baptist Church, El Paso, Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife Lois, of El Paso, his parents, an infant sister, Ardella Frances Holtan, and brother Ernest Gordon Holtan all of Hayfield, Minnesota. Survivors include his wife, Delores Holtan of El Paso, TX, his sister-in-law, Mildred “Millie” Lousia Jensen Holtan of Hayfield, Minnesota. His three children: daughter Mildred Ardella Pritchett and husband Raymond of McIntosh, NM, son Archie Gilbert Holtan and wife Carol Ann Perkins Holtan of Oklahoma City, OK, and daughter Dorothea “Dottie” Jane Barnes and husband William Robert “Bill” of San Marcos, TX. His grandchildren are George Pritchett and wife Sharon Norsworthy Pritchett of Round Rock, Texas, Ruth Ann Pritchett Cooper and husband Darrel Lynn of Albuquerque, Kevin Gilbert Holtan and wife Patricia Kohler Holtan of Comfort, Texas, Karen Marie Holtan Patti and husband Mark Reid of Marlbrough, Massachusetts, and William Alan Howard Bailey Barnes of San Marcos, Texas. He has two great-grandchildren, Calvin Reid and Charlotte Sophia Patti of Marlbrough, Massachusetts. Irvin has multiple nieces and nephews in Minnesota. Irvin was a wonderful husband and father, gentile, peaceful and spiritual, and someone we looked up to and are proud to be known as his wife and children. –Delores, Mildred, Archie & Dorothea.

Arrangements under the direction of Bill Merritt Funeral Service, Bethany, OK.