Irene R. Holz

Irene Holz, age 97 of Appleton, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones and went to be with Jesus on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Irene was born in Greenville on August 17, 1920, daughter of the late Harry and Esther (Maves) Schroeder. She attended Wide Awake, a one-room school in Greenville, graduated from Appleton High School, and received a Certificate of Completion from the Famous Artists School in Westport, CT. She learned to paint beautifully - a talent and gift she enjoyed for many years. On June 12, 1941, she married Forrest Holz in Greenville and were blessed with sixty-four wonderful years together until Forrest went home to heaven in 2005. The couple farmed in the town of Center until 1964, then moved to Hortonville. Later, when The Heritage in Appleton was constructed, they became residents and lived there the rest of their lives.

Together, they enjoyed golfing, traveling, and playing cards with friends and family. Irene was an avid reader and also did crosswords in the paper in PEN until her mid 90’s! She will also be remembered for the many years she made delicious English Toffee and her famous Lorna Doone dessert for church bazaars and as treats for family and friends.

Irene was a longtime and faithful member of Faith Community United Methodist Church in Greenville where she was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary and the Quilting Group. A woman of deep faith, she also regularly listened to WRVM Christian Radio. Calling them ‘her kids’, Irene is survived by many nieces and nephews whom she loved as her family: Pam (Alan) Uhlenbrauck of Black Creek, Shirley (Paul) Hameister of Appleton, Lowell “Buzz” (Charlotte) Leitzke of Greenville, Kathleen (Neil) Plamann of Appleton, Sandra (Richard) Conover of Waupaca, Nancy Buman of Kiel, Gene (Susan) Wussow of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Roland (Thelma) Schroeder of Appleton. Other surviving relatives include Franklin “Hank” Diestler and Linda Holz.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter Laurel Jean, her husband Forrest, four sisters: Eleanor (Milton) Wussow, Vera (Milton) Holz, Nelda (Myron) Leitzke, and Dorothy (Harry) Holz; two brothers: Walter Schroeder and Harold (Germaine) Schroeder; nieces: Corrine Tregaboff, Sally Schroeder, Karen Leitzke, Joanne Diestler, and Yvonne Leitzke; and nephews: Dennis Schroeder and Daniel Holz. Other relatives already passed include Jerry Buman.

The funeral service for Irene will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, January 22, 2018, at FAITH COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, N1966 Julius Drive in Greenville, with Rev. David Farina officiating. Entombment will follow in Highland Memorial Park. Family and friends are invited to gather at the church on Monday morning from 9:00 AM until the hour of the service. For more information or to share a memory of Irene, please visit www.wichmannfargo.com.

The family would like to extend their thanks to everyone at The Heritage as well as ThedaCare At Home for their loving care. Thanks also to Gayle, Irene’s hairdresser, whose kindness and dedication went above and beyond.

Irene’s faith was an inspiration to others, and she was often heard to say, “I just want to be with Jesus.”

Aunt Irene - We will miss you so much, but are so happy that now you are with Jesus, and we will see you there!