Ralph K. Holst

Ralph K. Holst, 87, Forest City, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019 at Westview Care Center, Britt, under hospice care, surrounded by his wife, Lois, and family. Funeral services were held Friday, Dec. 20, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Forest City, with Pastor Rod Hopp officiating. Burial took place in Rose Hill Cemetery, Thompson, with military honors conducted by the Leland VFW Post #6161. Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, was in charge of arrangements.
Ralph K. Holst was born June 6, 1932, in Forest City the son of James and Viva (Osheim) Holst. He attended and graduated from Thompson High School in 1950. Following graduation, he worked for area farmers until his enlistment in the U.S. Navy. Ralph served in the Navy from 1951 to 1955.
While on leave from the Navy, Ralph married the love of his life, Lois (Finer) Holst, July 21, 1954 and spent the next 65 plus years together. To this union four children were born.
Ralph was baptized as an adult in Lake Mills. He was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Leland, before joining Immanuel Lutheran Church, Forest City, where he has been a member for many years. Ralph was a lifetime member of the Leland VFW Post #6161 and a member of the Forest City American Legion Post #121.
After his enlistment, Ralph farmed west of Leland for four years. They then moved to Des Moines, where they stayed for five years. During that time, Ralph and his brother, Mark Holst, went to Ohio to meat cutting school. When they returned from school, the family moved back to the Leland area, where Ralph was employed as a meat cutter at area grocery stores. Eventually Ralph opened his own meat locker, Holst Frozen Foods, Forest City, which was a successful business until it was destroyed by fire five years after opening. Ralph then began his career at Winnebago Industries, working in many areas, was a supervisor and worked in warranty finally retiring after 25 years. After he retired, he was bored and still managed to work various jobs to keep busy.
Ralph loved the farm and had many hobbies, including buying and selling horses. He also collected horse memorabilia. Ralph liked traveling with Lois, going to Texas in the winter, and enjoying several cruises together. He loved and cherished his family and enjoyed spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids.
Those left to cherish Ralph’s memory are his wife of 65 years,Lois; their children: Mike (Lorna) Holst, Goodell; Janet (Bernie) Scroggins, Fayette; Nancy Toenges (Doug Driscoll), Bronson, Mich.; Bryon (Denise) Holst, Forest City; and bonus child Sally (Dennis) Klawitter, Wausau, Wis.; 17 grandkids; six great-grandkids; three brothers: Dean (Priscilla) Holst, Donald Holst, and Gary (Mariann) Holst; a sister-in-law, JoAnn Holst; and many extended relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Viva Holst; granddaughter, Christine Holst; father- and mother-in-law, Rudolph and Evelyn Finer; brother, Mark Holst; nephew, Todd Holst; and sister-in-law, Lois J. Holst.