Theodore Holtz Jr.

Theodore “Ted” Alfred Holtz, son of the late Theodore and Amanda Holtz was born July 26, 1922 in Marion, Texas. Ted had seven siblings.

He was united in holy matrimony to his beloved wife, Alice Kroll in Liberal, Kansas on August 14,1943. This union was blessed with two sons, Stephen born in 1945 and Quintin born in 1947. Ted and Alice enjoyed farming, nine pin bowling, traveling to Colorado, feeding family, going to church, and playing dominoes for 68 years. Alice preceded him in death on May 16, 2012.

Ted was known for his hard and detailed work. At the age of 16 he went to work for a neighbor forking hay from sun up to sun down for $0.65 a day. He borrowed traps from a neighbor to trap and sell hides. In 1939, at age 17, Ted joined the Civilian Conservation Corps to help fight forest fires in Wyoming. In 1942 Ted volunteered and joined the Army Air Corps to serve his country. He helped to open a B-24 base in Liberal, Kansas, and served in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946 Ted was discharged from the Air Force and he and Alice moved to Seguin, Texas to try farming and live close to family.

Ted started farming with a used John Deer H tractor on 90 acres of rented land with a handshake agreement. He harvested an excellent crop in 1947 followed by a year with one of the worst droughts in the county. He supported his family that year on $3,000.00. Ted and his son, Quintin built grain bins and started H&H Grain Company in 1972. At his peak, Ted was farming 1,900 acres. He farmed a year with his son, Quintin and then farmed solo up until the year 2006 at the age of 84.

Ted was a steward of the land, money, and friendships the Lord blessed him with. Anything he built or fixed was done well. It was done right. Ted spent long hours tending his crops in the seat of a tractor year after year. He maintained all his own farming equipment and made sure all his rows in the field were dead straight, even before GPS.

He did not waste his hard-earned money. Ted cared about investing his money and in the lives of others. With an eighth-grade education, Ted and Alice helped their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with higher education expenses. They knew the importance of a good education which they themselves did not have the opportunity to receive. Ted and Alice loved hosting family gatherings. Ted or “Opa” was known for his delicious German spaghetti and deer jerky. Ted was a faithful member of the Emanuel Lutheran Church for over seventy years.

Ted loved the outdoors and loved to fish and hunt. He looked forward to hunting season every year. At the age of 87 he took up hunting with a crossbow. At age 88 he took a trophy buck which was recognized at the 2010 Texas Big Game Awards. He was competing with younger hunters using rifles. All those who visited him loved his detailed hunting stories.

Ted quietly departed this life August 4th, 2021 surrounded by friends and family at his home in Seguin, Texas. He preceded death by his parents: Theodore and Amanda Holtz, his sisters; Edna (Willie) Kruegar, Agnes (Herman) Kreugar and Amanda Louise (Eddie) Lyssy, and Etta May (Willam) Englehardt and brothers; Edgar (Hilda) Holtz, Julius (Pauline) Holtz, and August (Isabell) Holtz. Ted is survived by his sons Stephen (Beth) Holtz of San Angelo, Texas, Quintin Holtz of Seguin, Texas, five grandchildren; Kevin Holtz, Brian Holtz, Wendy Holtz, Amy and her husband Sid Ivey, and Tonya and her husband Chris Fikes. Ted is also survived by his great grandchildren; Christopher Holtz, Kenzie Holtz, Chase Holtz, Weston Holtz, Cole Casper, Samantha Ivey, Gavin Ivey, Corban Fikes, Esan Fikes, Teagan Fikes, and Solan Fikes. Ted also leaves behind devoted nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind dear friends; Ella Meiers, John and Renate Nuxoll, Beverly Emmons, and loving caregiver, Ellen Archer. These dear friends loved and served him in beautiful ways in the last years of his life.

Ted will be remembered for many reasons. We will all greatly miss this man and we are so grateful he was a part of our lives.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 27, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Goetz Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. at Emanuel's Lutheran Church. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park.