Jeanne Holder

Jeanne Holder, precious mama, grammy, aunt, friend, wife, and follower of Christ, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, March 28, 2022.

She is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-law, Janette and Doug Hamm, Joni and Lonnie Busby, and Terri and Andrew Kaser; two grandsons, Parker and Zack Kaser, and two granddaughters, Tori Hamm and Janae Kaser, and beloved niece RaeJean Matlack.

Born Irma Jean Workman on October 11, 1925, in Hutchison, KS (although as anyone will tell you – she HATED the name Irma; sorry Grandma Workman!) her parents were Hay and Noral Workman.

Jeanne's dad owned a general store, which bottled soda pop, and she often talked about going there as a kid – which may have been the beginning of her notorious sweet tooth. She also loved going to the local theater for the nickel admission to see movies -- something she enjoyed throughout her life. Her mom took borders into their big two-story house, including one with an ear trumpet that Jeanne used to "playfully" hide.

She worked as a typist for the Hutchinson grain inspector in her 20s, and later as a telephone operator (Jeanne did a fine imitation of Lily Tomlin's Ernestine character!). And with her girlfriends, she frequented USO dances for WWII soldiers on leave. She had several close friendships (even accompanied one on her honeymoon!) and kept in touch with them all over the years.

Jeanne met her stylish husband, Max Holder, in the early 1950s – he wore a light-up tie, light-up shoes, and an aromatic ring in his nose (a then-treatment for asthma). The first time they saw one another, he was dragging the main street with some friends in "Hutch" and she was wearing a shorts outfit -- something he could describe in detail, 60-some years later! In March of 1953, she married her boyfriend, who became a resident of heaven 16 months earlier on Thanksgiving of 2020.

An easy conversationalist, Jeanne was quite verbal (a characteristic that mostly served her well, but sometimes not so much!). She was known for her sense of humor and youthful good looks (at 96 many mistook her for a decade younger, sometimes two), a mistake that delighted her "to no end."

Jeanne had style and flair, was always fashionably put together, and practically never left the house -- and later her apartment at Caley Ridge-- without her make-up and jewelry. One male resident said, "If they gave out beauty prizes here, you'd come in first!"

She stewarded her daughters well, teaching them to cook and sew and to love and serve their husbands. Jeanne loved her grandbabies – showering her first, a granddaughter, Tori, with purses and playing dress-up and "school" (she was the student and Tori was the teacher, Mrs. McGillicuddy – from I Love Lucy) and the card game UNO.

A lifelong people person Jeanne enjoyed making and sending unique, one-of-a-kind greeting cards to loved ones. In every card, she tried to personalize the message about God's love and how special each recipient was.

Jeanne grew up attending church regularly -- but was born again while attending a Bible Study Fellowship class in the late 1970s. It was then that she "bowed the knee" to Jesus Christ, God the Son, repented of her sin, and received His righteousness. Thereafter, she began to introduce her Lord and Savior to her husband, daughters, extended family, and friends. She did indeed, fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith.