Dan Holst, 91

Daniel E. Holst, age 91, of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday afternoon, Dec. 30, 2018, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.
He was born Jan. 14, 1927, in Versailles, Missouri, son of the late Harley E. and Nellie (Connor) Holst.
Dan resided in the Sturgis area since 1947 coming from Fayette, Missouri and moved to Burr Oak in 1960.
On July 31, 1947, he married Pauline L. Walcott in Fayette, Missouri. She died Dec. 2, 1994.
Dan had been employed by the Paramount Furniture Company in Sturgis for 11 years, worked as a carpenter and built grain bins and worked at the Sturgis Foundry and the Burr Oak Foundry. He worked all these various jobs while also perusing his passion of farming.
Dan was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War with the 187th Infantry and 11th Airborne Division as a paratrooper earning the rank of Tech-4.
He attended the Agape Family Church in Three Rivers and enjoyed hunting, fishing, time spent outdoors and loved his farm and farming.
He is survived by two daughters: Paula Holst of Colon and Denell Reilly of Sturgis; one son: Randy Holst of Sturgis; daughter-in-law: Joyce Holst of Arkansas; ten grandchildren: Javier, Paul, Jr., Jessie, Shawn, Jessica, Amanda, Harley, Kati, Mike and Kelsey; six great grandchildren; one great great grandson; one sister: Tiny Burchard of Missouri; two brothers: David (Eula) Holst and Dewey Holst both of Missouri and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and son: Rick Holst, son-in-law: Timothy Reilly and several brothers and sisters.
The family will receive friends from 12 to 1:45 p.m. Friday at the Rosenberg Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 807 E. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-3284. Funeral services celebrating the life of Daniel E. Holst will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. The Rev. Rodger Moyer of the Sturgis Evangelical Church will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Burr Oak Cemetery. Full military honors will be conferred by Captain John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and the U.S. Honor Guard.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mr. Holst’s memory consider Heartland Health Care Center, 517 S. Erie St., Three Rivers, MI 49093.
The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.