Gerhard H. Holste

Sept. 20, 1918-May 4, 2008

ATWOOD -- Gerhard Henry Holste, 89, died Sunday (May 4, 2008), at the Good Samaritan Center in Atwood.

He was born Sept. 20, 1918, to Herman and Mary (Hoffbauer) Holste in the "stonehouse" on the Holste farm northeast of Ludell. He was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church Sept.. 29, 1918, and confirmed March 20, 1932. He attended Immanuel Parochial School and graduated from Atwood Community High School in 1936. After graduation he picked corn in Colorado before beginning his career, farming the family farm near Ludell.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in March 1942, during World War II, serving in Australia for nearly three years. He returned to the U.S. in May 1945.

On June 8, 1951, he married Lorna Holle in the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ludell. The established their home on the farm for the next 27 years.

After farming for 40 years, he was employed by the maintenance department at the Good Samaritan Center.

He was active in the Walther League and Lutheran Layman's League at Immanuel Lutheran Church before transferring to Grace Lutheran Church, now Redeemer Lutheran in Atwood. He and his wife volunteered as Lamplighters for AAL for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 56 years, Lorna, siblings, John and Velma Holste, Laurine Holste, Dorothy and Jack Lewis, Cliff and Irene Holste, Doris Holste and Gilbert Wasserman; and sister-in-law, Della and Harvey Niermeier.

Survivors include his children, Cynthia and husband, Dan Beichley of Centennial, Colo., Sylvia and husband, Marc Walker of Atwood, Loretta and husband, Rob McFee of Oberlin, Harlan and wife, Ruth Holste of Ludell, Lois and husband, Butch Schartz of Ellis, Kan., and Marilyn Holste and Bill Fehringer of Sterling, Colo.; siblings, Art Holste, Herb Holste, Edith Wasserman, Herman and Barb Holste, Mary Ann and Paul Oelke, and Bob and Betty Holste; brother-in-law, Marvin and Mary Ann Holle; 13 grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

A celebration of his life will be Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Atwood with the Rev. Don White officiating. Interment will be at Immanuel Cemetery in Ludell. Military honors will be provided by the American Legion Sam Hubbard Post No. 46, Atwood.

Visitation is today until 8 p.m., at Williams Funeral Home of Atwood.

Memorials have been established to the Atwood Good Samaritan Center, Western Kansas Talking Books and Lutheran World Relief.

Williams Funeral home of Atwood is in charge of arrangements.