Richard D. "Little Swede" Holm,
82, of Ironwood, Mich., died peacefully Saturday, May 18, 2013, with his family
by his side, at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in
Hurley. He was born Sept. 24, 1930, in Saxon, son of
the late John and Anna (Erickson) Holm, and attended Saxon Grade and High
School. He then attended LaCrosse Vocational for auto mechanics in LaCrosse for
six months. Richard farmed on the family farm in Saxon for
a short time, and worked at the Belmont Cheese Co. in Saxon for a year. He moved
to Milwaukee and worked at Kraning Engineering for three months, then moved to
Waukegan, Ill., where he worked as a fork lift operator at a foundry for a short
time and then as an assembly line machine operator at Ocean Spray Cranberry Co.
Returning to Ironwood, he was employed as a truck mechanic at Heidemann Co. in
Ironwood and for three months at Roffer's Auto Sales in Ashland. He also worked
in the North Range Mine in Ironwood, as a mechanic and welder at Steiger Lumber
Co. in Bessemer, Mich., at Norb's Auto Electric for six years, at White Pine
Copper Co. for a short time, and as a mechanic at Ahonen Lumber Co. for ten
years. He retired as a mechanic and shop foreman for the c ity of Ironwood after
18 years of service in 1992. Richard was a member of Our Lady of Peace
Catholic Church in Ironwood and the former St. Michael's Catholic Church. He had
a considerable love for the Ford automobile and his 1958 Edsel,
and was an active member of the Klassic Kruisers Car Club. He also enjoyed
snowmobiling, camping, carpentry work and furniture making. He dearly loved his
family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and will be deeply
missed. On June 27, 1953, he was married to the former
Frances B. Elias at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Ironwood by the late Rev.
Frank Ronkowski. Frances survives. Also surviving are four sons, Richard M.
(Jan), Ironwood Township, Steven, Ironwood, Jeffery "Jay" (Lori), Ironwood
Township, and Rodney (Mary), Ironwood; a daughter, Kathy (Dan) Martinson,
Bessemer; 14 grandchildren, Michael (Margo) Holm, April (Oscar Narvaez) Lynott,
Lisa (Scott) DeNeve, Steven Jr.and Timothy Holm, Kristin (Brian) Wladysiak,
Kristen and Katie Holm, Johnathan and Mikayla Holm, Eric Martinson, Tara Stuhr
(Tim Krall), Tammie (Joe) Paoli and Danielle (David) Preston; ten
great-grandchildren, Ella, Ashley, Leandro, Amelia, Lexi, Logan, Dayne, Vin,
Enzo, and Rhylee; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Holm, Marne, Mich., Elsie Holm, Omro,
and Ann Elias, Bessemer; a brother-in-law, Frank (Paula) Elias,
Ironwood; numerous nieces and nephews; and his dog, Toochie. Besides his parents, Richard was preceded in
death by a son, Robert Dale Holm, on March 5, 1983; four brothers, Harold,
Leonard, Elmer and Clarence; and a sister, Violet Scherens. Out of respect for his wishes, cremation has
taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
Friday, May 24, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation in the St. Joseph Family Room
at 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Robb
Jurkovich, celebrant. Rite of Committal and interment will follow in
Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Luncheon will be served in the parish hall
immediately upon return from the cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the
Klassic Kruisers Car Club. Richard's obituary can be viewed online and
condolences given to his family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to
McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood. The family would like to thank the staff at
Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center for the wonderful care given to
Richard over the past two and a half years.