The Mass of Christian Burial for him will be celebrated in the SFV Catholic Chapel at a time to be determined following the cessation of the Covid 19 pandemic. After the Mass, he will be interred in Laurel Land Memorial Park, where his beloved Betty rests.
Dan was born in Chillicothe, MO, and spent his early years on the family farm near Lincoln, KS. In 1946 he married his high school sweetheart, Betty Hundertmark. They enjoyed a long, happy union and were blessed with four sons. Dan earned a B.S. Degree in Agronomy from Kansas State University and a mid-career Masters Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.
Dan's employment was with the USDA's Soil Conservation Service (SCS), where he devoted his life to providing encouragement and technical assistance for land users to protect the nation's natural resources. He rose through the ranks, serving in positions in Kansas; Iowa; Washington, D.C.; Missouri; Illinois; Texas; and finally becoming an Assistant Chief of the Soil Conservation Service, the position from which he retired in 1980. He received many awards and commendations for his technical expertise and leadership during his career, capped by the USDA's Superior Service Award while serving as State Conservationist of Illinois. He was a Charter Member of the U.S. Government's Senior Executive Service.
Dan was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Soil and Water Conservation Society of America, the Association of Retired SCS employees, the North Texas SCS Alumni Club, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Knights of Columbus, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the St. Bartholomew Prime Time Club of St. Bartholomew, and the American Legion. After his retirement, Dan volunteered his assistance in many activities at St. Bartholomew Church and St. Francis Village. He was a longtime Sacristan, Mass Server, Eucharistic Minister, Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister for the sick of the Catholic Chapel, and Lector. He served many years on the SFV Administrator's Advisory Committee and worked with the SFV Founder's Annual Fr. Phil Marquard Festival and Fund Drive.
Survivors are his son Richard Holmes and wife Bronia, of Columbia, SC; son Steven Holmes of Emeryville, CA; son Joseph Holmes and wife Deborah, of Columbia, SC; five grandchildren; and four great granddaughters. Another son, David, preceded Dan in death at 16 years of age.
Dan wrote his life story, Life on the Contour, for the benefit of his family and future generations. He concluded the “Spiritual Growth” chapter in the book with the following prayer. "Heavenly Father, You have given us everything -- Life; Love and mercy; uncounted blessings; this earth from which we feed our bodies; and Jesus for our salvation through His death on the cross in atonement for our sins, for His resurrection and the Sacraments which He instituted that we might be with You in Heaven for eternity, and for His Holy Spirit Who dwells in our hearts to give us the wisdom we need to listen to Your word. We praise You for all this and thank You. Bless us now with the graces we need to be servants to Your people, to place our full trust in You, to repent of our sins, to forgive those who have offended us, and to dwell in Your love as a living ember of a spirit aflame. We ask all this in Jesus' name." Amen.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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