Harry Holmes
February 27th, 1924 - October 5th, 2011
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Harry's Obituary
Harry Holmes, a devoted husband, father, grandpa and great-grandfather who fought with the U.S. Army during World War II, died Wednesday, October 5 at the River Ridge Assisted Living facility.
He was 87 years old.
Holmes was born February 27, 1924 to Elwyn and Ethel (Galbreath) Holmes in South Haven, and spent his childhood making trouble with his four brothers. In 1943, he married Aretta Jones, his lifetime sweetheart.
He served his country in Europe during World War II, storming the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, helping liberate a Nazi concentration camp and earning four Bronze Stars before returning home to South
Haven.
Holmes was a hard worker who believed in the value of education. He earned his GED after the war, taking classes at night while also working a fulltime job to support his growing family.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church and worked as a carpenter for Pearson Construction and, later, Olson Brothers – finally retiring as a self-employed residential contractor who always got the job done
well. He also built things for his family – including the house in which he lived the rest of his life.
He loved traveling the country, campground to campground, with his family in their RV. His eyes lit up at Christmas, when he'd put on a Santa hat to pass out gifts. He also enjoyed fishing and gardening, tending to his roses and small vegetable garden even in his final years.
Holmes was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife Aretta, who died in January, 2008; and four brothers – Elwyn, Vernon, Walter and John Holmes.
He is survived by his son, Jory (Beverly) Holmes of Goshen, Ind., and his daughter, Cathy (Robert) Brandel of Lawrence, Mich.; his four granddaughters – Erin (Chad) Brooks of Wilmette, Ill., Laurie (Rick) Boyd and Julie Wright of Paw Paw, Mich., and Lindsey Holmes of Columbus, Ohio; great-grandson Zachariah Kentner; great-granddaughter Mallory Books; sister-in-law Marcelene (Wendell) Babb of Tucson, Ariz.; several nieces and nephews; and his River Ridge caregivers.
Visitation will be Friday, October 7, from 6 to 8 PM at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Saturday, October 8, at 1:00 PM at the funeral home, with Pastor Jerry Koller officiating.Burial will take place at North Shore Memory Gardens in Hagar Shores, Michigan. Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family’s online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com
The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven, 637-0333.
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