William F. Holstein

William Frederick Holstein died at Lakeside Nursing Home on Friday, April 11, 2003.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday April 16 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City with Fr. Michael Lyons officiating. Eddy Pangerl provided music accompanied by Kathy Hagberg. Interment was in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery of Pine City with honorary casket bearers Fritz Holstein, Bill Kessler, Burt Ellig, the Rock Creek Lions and the Novak-MillirenVfW Post # 4258.
William was born in Osna-brueck Germany on April 16, 1920 to Frederick and Louise and sailed to the United States with his parents and brother, landing at Ellis Island in 1924. His family settled in Finlayson and his father Fritz owned the Holstein shop. He graduated from Finlayson High School in 1937.
Bill married Vivian Marie Sheehan in 1943 at Fort Lennard Wood, Missouri before he was sent to war. His daughter Margaret (Peg) was born in 1943. He was married to Vivian for 47 years.
During his service in World War II with the 474th Engineer Maintenance Company as Tec 4, Khorramshair, Iran, he received a commendation in 1945 from the Commander of the Persian Gulf for his outstanding engineering initiative and ingenuity in maintaining and repairing critical equipment. He returned from the Persian Gulf to join his brother and father at Holstein Brothers Pine City Electric where he was an owner until 1990. Over the years he initiated several innovative engineering and electrical projects for farm and factory. He was dedicated to working with the farmers of the area to provide a round the clock repair service for their machinery.
Bill married Joyce Larsen in 1994 and they have had a rich and happy life together. They both helped at the Senior Center and Bill continued delivering Meals on Wheels and transporting patients to the hospital and clinics. He served Meals on Wheels for the center for 15 years.
Bill Holstein was dedicated to his family, his work and community service. He served the Democratic Party through many administrations and supported Immaculate Conception Catho-lic Church in many ways throughout his life. He was an active member of the VFW here in Pine City and the Rock Creek Lions. The Pine County Fair was a favorite activity of Billís throughout the years and he was a master at the Beer and Braut Stand. For the VFW he served as a regular and active member and made certain the American flags flew on all the veterans graves each Memorial Day.
Bill was an avid sports fan and had some of the original Vikings season tickets. Many winters he could be seen in snowmobile suit weathering the frozen conditions to support the team. He was a great Twins fan as well and wouldnít miss a game on radio or in the stands.
Bill was a quiet and humble man. It was said most appropriately in his memorial in the words of St Francis of Assisi; ìPreach the bible. And speak, if necessary.î His family will miss his bright smile and blue eyes and his caring ways.
Bill is survived in death by wife Joyce, daughter Peg (Gene) Norstrom of Bay Minette, Alabama; three Larsen stepsons: Dennis, Thomas and Donald, all of St. Paul; three grandchildren: Jay Norstrom of Bloomington, Minn., Conn and Troy Norstrom of Alabama, four great-grandchildren; brother Fritz (Ruth) Holstein of Pine City.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, a sister Mary Gabrielson and wife Vivian. Casket bearers included Billís grandsons Jay, Conn and Troy Norstrom, son-in-law Gene Norstrom, step-sons Dennis and Donald Larsen and friends Harold Anderson and Dennis Reiser.
In memory of Bill Holstein memorials can be directed to the Pine City Food Shelf.

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