Francis Edwin "Fritz" Holsclaw

Gen. Francis E. Holsclaw
3/9/2011


Gen. Francis "Fritz" Edwin Holsclaw, Age 89, passed away on March 9, 2011 in his Loomis, Calif., home from pneumonia after a long battle with diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
Fritz was born in South Dakota on October 1, 1921, to Jacob and Violet Holsclaw. He was the youngest brother of six siblings. At a young age his family relocated to Auburn, California where he met and eventually married Clare Tillotson.
During World War II, Fritz joined the Army and served in the US Army Air Corps and the Air Force. He flew 40 combat missions in Europe as a B-24 bomber pilot and was awarded, among other medals, The Distinguished Flying Cross and a Purple Heart.
He was father to Mavis Holsclaw Strebler, his beloved son Gary Holsclaw, a US Marine who died in Vietnam, and Kenneth Holsclaw who died at age 5 of pneumonia.
After the war, Fritz and his wife embarked upon many enterprises, including a resort and flight strip in the mountains above Forresthill, a chicken farm where they raised 15,000 fryers at a time, a private airstrip in Loomis, and an apartment complex on their home property. Concurrently, Fritz served in the California Air National Guard where he retired as commander of the 162nd Mobile Communications Group. Under his command, the 162nd was the first ANG Mobile Communications Group ever to receive an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
Throughout his life, Fritz maintained a deep love of flying. He built many experimental aircraft and was an active member of the EAA.
After 43 years of marriage, Fritz and Clare divorced. Later he married Joyce Hayward. They remained married until 2007. He lived the remainder of his life with his daughter Mavis in her Loomis home.
Late in his life, Fritz battled diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. In all phases of his life, he deeply touched the lives of those around him with his kindness, mentoring ability, grace, and humility. He was a true gentleman.
He is survived by his daughter Mavis Strebler, her sons John and Rob, her stepson Jimmy, great-grandchildren Zachary, Nathan, and Logan, and his brother Everett who currently resides in Auburn, with his wife Dorothy. He is also survived by a large number of nieces and nephews on both sides of the family as well as their children and grandchildren.
Memorial service to be held at 3405 Holsclaw Rd., Loomis, CA 95650 at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 27, 2011. The family has requested that for people who want to send flowers, to instead make a donation to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America in memory of Fritz.