Richard D. 'Little Swede' Holm

HURLEY, Wis. — Richard D. “Little Swede” Holm, 82, of Ironwood, Mich., died peacefully Saturday, May 18, 2013, with his family by his side, at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley.

He was born Sept. 24, 1930, in Saxon, son of the late John and Anna (Erickson) Holm, and attended Saxon Grade and High School. He then attended LaCrosse Vocational for auto mechanics in LaCrosse for six months.

Richard farmed on the family farm in Saxon for a short time, and worked at the Belmont Cheese Co. in Saxon for a year. He moved to Milwaukee and worked at Kraning Engineering for three months, then moved to Waukegan, Ill., where he worked as a forklift operator at a foundry for a short time and then as an assembly line machine operator at Ocean Spray Cranberry Co.

Returning to Ironwood, he was employed as a truck mechanic at Heidemann Co. in Ironwood and for three months at Roffer’s Auto Sales in Ashland. He also worked in the North Range Mine in Ironwood, as a mechanic and welder at Steiger Lumber Co. in Bessemer, Mich., at Norb’s Auto Electric for six years, at White Pine Copper Co. for a short time, and as a mechanic at Ahonen Lumber Co. for 10 years. He retired as a mechanic and shop foreman for the city of Ironwood after 18 years of service in 1992.

Richard was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood and the former St. Michael’s Catholic Church. He had a considerable love for the Ford automobile and his 1958 Edsel, and was an active member of the Klassic Kruisers Car Club. He also enjoyed snowmobiling, camping, carpentry work and furniture making. He dearly loved his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and will be deeply missed.

On June 27, 1953, he was married to the former Frances B. Elias at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Ironwood by the late Rev. Frank Ronkowski. Frances survives.

Also surviving are four sons, Richard M. (Jan), Ironwood Township, Steven, Ironwood, Jeffery “Jay” (Lori), Ironwood Township, and Rodney (Mary), Ironwood; a daughter, Kathy (Dan) Martinson, Bessemer; 14 grandchildren, Michael (Margo) Holm, April (Oscar Narvaez) Lynott, Lisa (Scott) DeNeve, Steven Jr. and Timothy Holm, Kristin (Brian) Wladysiak, Kristen and Katie Holm, Johnathan and Mikayla Holm, Eric Martinson, Tara Stuhr (Tim Krall), Tammie (Joe) Paoli and Danielle (David) Preston; 10 great-grandchildren, Ella, Ashley, Leandro, Amelia, Lexi, Logan, Dayne, Vin, Enzo and Rhylee; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Holm, Marne, Mich., Elsie Holm, Omro, and Ann Elias, Bessemer; a brother-in-law, Frank (Paula) Elias, Ironwood; numerous nieces and nephews; and his dog, Toochie.

Besides his parents, Richard was preceded in death by a son, Robert Dale Holm, on March 5, 1983; four brothers, Harold, Leonard, Elmer and Clarence; and a sister, Violet Scherens.

Out of respect for his wishes, cremation has taken place.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, May 24, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation in the St. Joseph Family Room at 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Robb Jurkovich, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood.

Luncheon will be served in the parish hall immediately upon return from the cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Klassic Kruisers Car Club.

Richard’s obituary can be viewed online and condolences given to his family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.

The family would like to thank the staff at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center for the wonderful care given to Richard over the past two and a half years.