Allen Holkesvik

Allen Holkesvik, age 99 of rural Decorah died Friday, March 11, 2022 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1638 Big Canoe Rd. rural Decorah, IA, with Rev. Peter Kowitz presiding. Burial will be in the Locust cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Memorials may be made to the Locust Cemetery Association or to Winneshiek County Hospice, 901 Montgomery St, Decorah, IA 52101. Allen Eugene Holkesvik was born at home on August 21, 1922 the son of Eugene and Jeanette (Brandt) Holkesvik. He was baptized, confirmed and married at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Decorah, Iowa. Allen passed away at the Winneshiek Hospital on March 11, 2022, surrounded by his family. On January 6, 1946 he married the love of his life Virginia May Rustad. This union was blessed with five children: David, Steven, Julie, Lori, and Lowell. Together they lived on his family farm West of Locust, IA where Allen lived his entire life. That farm was his pride and joy filled with memories growing up, starting a family and enjoying his retirement years with his beloved Virginia. Allen enjoyed farming with his Grandpa Nels and his Dad on the family farm from the time he was a young boy. He continued to farm until the Spring of 1969 when he began working for Bruening Rock Product until retirement in 1984. Allen remembered all the roads he worked on over the years and especially remembers the very spot he delivered his last load of rock (on the Elon Road). Allen loved music of every kind and could play the violin, banjo, guitar, piano and even a bit of the harmonica. He loved to dance with Virginia, fish and go for long rides looking at the wildlife and the roads that he worked on. Allen loved the farm and all the memories that it engulfed throughout his lifetime. Most of all, he loved his entire family. Survivors include his children; Steven (Mary) Holkesvik of Decorah, Julie (Bob) Sauer of Rochester, MN, Lori (Kerry) Erickson of Mabel, MN, Lowell (Kelly) Holkesvik of Rochester, MN, and a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Holkesvik of Decorah. Allen and Virginina have 16 grandchildren: Lee Holkesvik, Lisa Blaess, Lynn (Angie) Holkesvik, Robert (Molly) Holkesvik, Tessa (Mark) Voight, Chad Barth, Laura (Graham) Plumhoff, Christina Sauer, Michael Sauer, Tina (Bruce) Michels, Tonya (Adam) Tollefsrud, Stephanie (Carl) Westby, Tyler (Sara) Erickson, Quentin Holkesvik, Zachary (Valarie) Holkesvik, and Zebulen Holkesvik. They are blessed with 29 great grandchildren; Richie, Matt (Miranda), Anna, Ryan Blaess, Jordan, Makayla and Brooklynn Holkesvik, Marea (James) Ostlie, Hans, Steven (Anika), Dawson, and Nils Holkesvik, Sayer and Lyla Plumhoff, Corrina, Alexandra (Samuel Camacho), and Jacob Voigt, Bryce, Maddison, and Robert Michels, Emma, Gwen, Kale, and Sadie Tollefsrud, Kaylin and James Westby, Jackson Holkesvik, Owen and Aviana Holkesvik. He was blessed with 2 great, great grandchildren; Elsie Ostlie and Davina Voigt. Allen has one sister; Ruth Ann (Bob) Acosta (Chatsworth, CA) and many nieces and nephews. Preceding his death were his wife Virginia in 2006. His parents: Eugene and Jeanette Holkesvik. Mother and father-in-law: Abraham and Olena Rustad. His sister: Marian (Earl) Knoke. His son: David in 1988. Great grandson: Robert Eugene Holkesvik in 1993 and a niece: Rhonda (Knoke) Keating.