Leland Holthaus

Leland Holthaus, age 64, of Festina, IA, died unexpectedly in a farming accident on Friday, August 9, 2024. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 30, 2024, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina, IA. A meal will be provided following the service at Festina Parish Center. There will be no visitation prior to mass on Friday morning. In lieu of flowers: Memorials may be sent to the Festina Community Center (2351 County Road B32, Fort Atkinson, IA, 52144) Leland “Fritz” Holthaus was born on May 3, 1960, the son of Rudolph “Rudy” and Germaine (Dietzenbach) Holthaus. He attended South Winneshiek Schools as a member of the Class of 1979. After school, he farmed alongside his parents on the Holthaus family farm. Leland also did custom farm work for many years and enjoyed helping HMC with custom farming as well. Leland also worked for Upper Iowa University and was currently employed at Luther College in the custodial department. Leland married Chris Genz and later divorced. To this union, he gained two stepdaughters, Samantha Kriener and Charity Ives and continued a lasting friendship. Leland enjoyed Iowa Hawkeye Football and Iowa Women’s Basketball. He loved his Ram truck and took great pride in cleaning it weekly, clothing optional and never going over 15 mph on the gravel roads. Leland enjoyed his daily talks with Alan, Kale, and Rick and his Sunday visits with Jason. Everyone that met him has great stories to tell! He had a great sense of humor and loved making people laugh. To know him was to like him. Leland is survived by his two sisters, Marleen Numedahl and Jan (Curt) Vick, one nephew, four nieces, and several great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by so many great friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rudy in 2002 and Germaine in 2015, and brother-in-law Ronald Numedahl.