Jeanette P. Holkesvik

Jeanette Holkesvik, age 105, of Decorah, Iowa, died Thursday, March 6, 2008 at Wellington Place in Decorah following a short illness. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, March 10, 2008 at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Locust, Iowa, in rural Decorah with Rev. Gene Hermeier officiating. Burial will be in Locust Cemetery. Friends may call from 2:00 - 4:00 P.M. Sunday at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Monday one hour before services at the Church. Jeanette Pearl (Brandt) Holkesvik was born December 10, 1902 at home on the family farm in Canoe Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, the youngest of seven children of Henry and Mary (Russell) Brandt. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Jeanette attended Country School. She was united in marriage to Eugene Bertrum Holkesvik on November 22, 1921 at the Nels Holkesvik home in Decorah, IA. This union was blessed with three children: Allen, Marian and Ruth Ann. Jeanette and Eugene lived on a farm near Locust and raised cows, pigs, and turkeys. They moved into Decorah in 1948. Jeanette worked at The Cozy Tea Room, Sid’s Steak House, Green Parrot, Frederick’s, was a cook at the Decorah School Hot Lunch Program in the old high school, and then she was the head cook at the Aase Haugen Home. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church at Locust where she had been very active in Ladies Aid and Circle. Jeanette loved to bake and cook for her family and friends and have them in for coffee and meals together. She loved all kinds of music, especially when Ruth Ann would play for her. Jeanette became a resident of Oneota Riverview Care Facility (now known as Wellington Place) on April 7, 1997. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Eugene on February 2, 1952; one grandson, David Holkesvik; one great great-grandson, Robert Holkesvik; her six brothers and sisters: Lewis Brandt, Dora Bender, Jennie Johnson, Lydia Severtsgaard, Addie Quandahl and Levinia Brandt in infancy; and one daughter-in-law, Virgina Holkesvik. Jeanette is survived by her three children: Allen Holkesvik of Decorah, Iowa, Marian (Earl) Knoke of Decorah and Ruth Ann (Bob) Acosta of Chatsworth, California; eight grandchildren: Steven (Mary) Holkesvik of Decorah, Julie (Bob) Sauer of Rochester, MN, Lori (Kerry) Erickson of Mabel, MN, Lowell (Kelly) Holkesvik of Rochester, MN, Daryl (Sherri) Knoke of Decorah, Rhonda (Craig) Keating of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, Karla (Jason) Paciorek of Rochester, MN, and Tommy (Bridget) Acosta of Palm Dale, CA; one granddaughter-in-law, Bonnie Holkesvik of Decorah; twenty-four great-grandchildren: Lee Holkesvik of Decorah, Lisa (Rich) Blaess of Decorah, Lynn (Angie) Holkesvik of Belton, MO, Bob (Molly) Holkesvik of Decorah, Tessa (Mark) Voight of Cresco, IA, Chad Barth of Arlington, VA, Christina Sauer of Rochester, MN, Laura Sauer of Rochester, MN, Michael Sauer of Rochester, MN, Tina (Bruce) Michels of Decorah, Tonya (Adam) Tollefsrud of Decorah, Stephanie Erickson of LaCrosse, WI, Tyler Erickson of Mabel, MN, Quentin Holkesvik of Decorah, Zachary (Valerie) Holkesvik of Forest City, IA, Zebulen Holkesvik of Decorah, Jason Knoke of Decorah, Michael Knoke of Decorah, Jason (Melissa) Keating of Palm Coast. FL, Jenna Sandoe of Rochester, MN, Collin Sandoe of Rochester, MN, Britnee Acosta of Palm Dale, CA, Tristan Acosta of Palm Dale, CA, and Tyler Acosta of Palm Dale, CA: and twenty-four great great-grandchildren.