Arthur Julius Holstein

Arthur J. Holstein age 92 of Tracy, MN died on Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy. Services will be 11:00 AM, Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy. Visitation will be 5-7PM on Monday, August 9, 2010 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the Tracy City Cemetery. Arthur Julius Holstein was born on August 17, 1917 to Julius and Adelia (Rahlfs) Holstein at Tracy, Minnesota, Lyon County. Art attended grade school in District 42 in Redwood County. After staying out for two years in high school to help on the family farm, he returned and graduated in 1937 in the same class with his future wife Lucille (Thompson). Art attended junior college in Tracy during 1939 and 1940. Art loved all sports. He played lots of fast pitch softball in the late 30’s, as well as football and basketball in high school and basketball in junior college and the army. He enjoyed seeing many professional games in the Twin Cities. He took up golf in later years, hitting a hole-in-one in Sioux Falls, and also bowled in Tracy leagues for many years. Art and Lucille were married February 2, 1941. He was drafted for service in August of 1942 and honorably discharged in October of 1945. He earned the rank of Sergeant with the 937th Engineer Brigade. Arthur took part in five major engagements, going first into Normandy on July 10, 1944, and on with the army into northern France, The Ardennes, Central Germany and the Rhineland. He received the awards of the ETO ribbon and five battle stars. Art and Lucille started farming on the Mike Maires farm after the war. Art participated in many area boards and organizations, including Zion Lutheran Church, the Tracy Elevator Board, Monroe Township Board, Tracy Lions Club and for more than sixty years, the American Legion. After retiring from farming, Art and Lucille moved to Lake Shetek for six years and then to Tracy. They spent some time in Texas with Tracy friends in the winters and in the Cities with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. On Tuesday, August 3, 2010 Art died at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy at the age of 92. He is survived by his two daughters, Mary Ann (Tom) Rolloff of Bloomington, MN and Linda Holstein of Golden Valley; five grandchildren, Aaron (Peggy) Rolloff, Amy (Bill) Marker, Sloane (Eric) Tyler, Sarah (Todd) Johnson, and Amelia Holstein Bailey; one sister, Violet; two brothers, Ruben and Kenneth; eleven great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends. His wife, Lucille, brothers Clarence, Frank, and Gilbert, and sisters Evelyn and Luella preceded him in death. Blessed be the memory of Art.