Darlene Holtz

November 20, 1919 - January 15, 2021

Darlene Holtz, 101, of Kearney, NE, died Friday, January 15, 2021 at the Ravenna Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home. Private family graveside services will be held April 6, 2021 at the Shelton Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Mission Central—Attn: Gary Theis, 40718 Highway E 16 Mapleton, Iowa 51034. Darlene was born November 20, 1919 on the Family farm near Ravenna, Nebraska, to Ernest E and Emma (Weber) Gosda. She received her early education at Zion Lutheran North Shelton and graduated in 1937 from Gibbon High School. She lived in the Ravenna-Gibbon-Shelton-Kearney area all her life. On June 13, 1937 she married Erwin Holtz and they resided on a farm north of Shelton. In addition to working on the farm, gardening and raising a family she was active in teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Shelton. In 1964 Darlene and her husband became members of a new mission church, Holy Cross Lutheran, in Kearney, where she remained a member for over 55 years, active in many capacities…evangelism, Bible studies, visiting members in the hospital and assisted living homes to name only a few. She was an active member for many years in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML). Darlene started volunteering at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in 1993 at the Surgical Floor Reception Desk where she served for over 10 years. When the Archway Museum opened, she worked as a tour guide for several years and enjoyed sharing our great history and meeting people from all over the world. After she retired, Darlene enjoyed reading, painting ceramics and going to the Senior Center for lunch and staying to play cards with friends during the afternoon. She lived in an Assisted Living facility in Kearney for the past 5 years and enjoyed being with people and participating in the many daily activities. On November 23, 2019 Darlene celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends. She felt blessed, and loved and enjoyed her 6 children, 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 19 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, one grandchild and one great-grandchild.