Arvid Holtan

JOICE - Arvid Holtan, 85, of Joice, died Saturday, December 1, 2012 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark Street, Forest City with Pastor Clarence Baalson officiating. Burial will be at Salem Memorial Cemetery in Lake Mills, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City. Arvid was born on April 2, 1927 at Rosendale, MO, to Arthur E. and Mabel (Halverson) Holtan. While Arv was still young, the family returned to north Iowa where they resided and farmed west of Lake Mills. The family later moved to a farm south of Joice, IA. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April, 1945, and graduated from Fertile High School that year in absentia. He served in the Pacific Theatre on the island of Guam during the later days of World War II. After completing his service in the Navy, Arvid attended and graduated from Waldorf Junior College in Forest City, and Iowa State College in Ames, IA. Then, for several years, he taught Veteran's Training on the GI Bill. He later worked as a tu...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

y specialist for Golden Sun Milling Company, before moving back to the farm near Joice in 1958, where he resided the remainder of his life. On August 5, 1956, at Estherville, IA, Arvid was united in marriage to Maryon Anderson. To their union one child was born, son Bruce L. Holtan. Arvid and Maryon farmed together until their retirement in 1990. During the past 23 years they wintered in Florida, and enjoyed participating in many community activities. His hobbies were many, including camping, wood carving, model engine building, exhibiting at engine shows, and serving as 4-H leader. He was very proud to have had the opportunity to go on the World War II Veteran's Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. during the summer of 2010. Arvid was preceded in death by his parents; his brother-in-law, Lawrence Heyerdahl, Jr.; and his in-laws, Gus and Bertha Anderson. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Maryon; son, Bruce (Evelyn); sister, Norma (Don) Wakeley of Bellevue, WA; sister, Betty Heyerdahl of Green Bay, WI; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Memorials to Heritage Park of North Iowa, Forest City, in Arvid's name, would be appreciated.