HOLSTEIN, Merle R., age 87

Died: Thursday, August 7th, 2014

Memorial Service: 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at the funeral home with the Reverend Robert Hoekstra officiating

Visitation: 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Wednesday

Interment: Lakeview Cemetery, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 

Memorials given to the Wisconsin Parkinson Association are welcome in lieu of flowers
945 N 12^th Street, Ste. 4602, Milwaukee, WI  53233
http://wiparkinson.org/Donate.aspx

Merle R. Holstein, age 87, died on Thursday, August 7, 2014 at his home in Eau Claire. He was born May 7, 1927 to late Mary (Komro) and Alvin Holstein in "German Valley" outside of Mondovi.

Merle celebrated numerous milestones during his life. A few included: graduating from Mondovi High School in 1946 with lifelong friends; beginning his 37-year-long career with NSP (now Xcel) in 1949; joining the medical unit of the Army National Guard's 32nd Division in 1949; bringing home his first-born son, Steven in 1954 and his baby girl, Marsha in 1956; responding to the Guard's call for service during the Korean Conflict and the Berlin Crisis; being promoted to Purchasing Manager of NSP Wisconsin in 1975; retiring in 1986.

He always thought of himself as a lucky man, even in his later years as he humbly lived with Parkinson's. He was a quiet private person, one who could disarm you with his dry wit, stealthy humor, and twist of a phrase. He was gentle and kind. Home and family were sacred to him. He loved nature, loved to tinker and cook. He enjoyed gardening, boating, hunting, bowling and camping.

Merle is survived by his sister, Verena Westberg of Altoona; son, Steven, of River Falls; daughter, Marsha, of Deer Park, WA; cherished grandchildren, Dane, John, Kayla and Tyler; great grandchildren, Jarron and Xavier; countless nieces and nephews; several sisters-in-law; and Merle's significant other, Karen Kremer.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Bill, Leona Brantner, Ethel Machmeier, Josephine Johnson, Norma Goodell, Norman, Lorraine McCann, Melvin, Milton, Phyllis Taylor, Alvin, Donald and Dorothy Holstein.