Arthur M. Holmer Obituary

Born Sept. 23, 1919; in Revovo, Pa.
Died: Sept. 1, 2010; in Batavia

The Rev. Arthur M. Holmer, 90, formerly of St. Charles, died Sept. 1, 2010, in Batavia.

He was born Sept. 23, 1919, in Revovo, Pa., the sixth child of the Rev. and Mrs. C. E. Holmer.

In 1937, he graduated as high school valedictorian in Manistee, Mich. He received his B.A. from Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill., in 1942.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Corp, 114th General Hospital, England. After the war, he attended Augustana Seminary and in 1947 married Alice Marie Johnson of LaGrange. He was graduated and ordained in 1949, beginning 50 years of service as a parish pastor.

He served First Lutheran Church, Harvey; Gethsemane Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Mo.; and from 1962 to 1985 was senior pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Charles; after retiring, he served 10 years as visitation pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church, Batavia.

During his ministry, he served on the Augustana College Board of Directors and on the Executive Board of the Illinois Synod of the Lutheran Church in America, providing leadership in the area of stewardship for the Synod.

Pastor Holmer enjoyed tennis, sailing and woodworking. He was inspired by music and loved to sing, but his greatest love was for Alice, his wife for 63 years.

He is survived by three children, the Rev. Peter (Linda) Holmer, Plainfield; the Rev. Richard (Susan) Holmer, Lake Forest, and Dr. Mary (Roger) Holmer-Essley of Newmarket, N.H.; sister, Idamarie Holmer, Grand Rapids, Mich.; seven grandchildren, Julia, Marianne, Nathan, Eric and Paul Holmer, and Anders and Alka Holmer-Essley.

He is preceded in death by his wife, parents and five siblings.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Charles. The Rev. Mark Larsen will officiate. Burial will be private at Union Cemetery. Visitation will be from from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday at Yurs Funeral Home, St. Charles.

Contributions may be made to Augustana College or Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.

Arrangements by Yurs Funeral Home, St. Charles. For information, call 630-584-0060 or visit www.yursfuneralhomes.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Kane County Chronicle on Sep. 3, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Arthur M. Holmer

6 Entries

Paul Edstrom

August 28, 2011

August 28, 2011. I am Paul Edstrom, a cousin of Art Holmer. His mother was a sister to my father who was a pastor in Augustana Lutheran Church and eventually in the ELCA. I would like to communicate with any of Art's family who is willing. My email address is [email protected].

Linda Gagel-Hamburg

September 20, 2010

Dear Holmer Family:
When I saw Pastor Holmer's photo in the Trib, my heart went back to Gethsemane Lutheran on Pernod and Hampton in South St. Louis! Pastor was so wonderful to me and my family, kind and loving and always understanding of our many struggles. He strengthened my faith-life as I started my confirmation under his kind instruction. Some of my favorite memories are of him leading our Children's Choir. I attended Valpo, met and married my husband there, and have spent my career serving children at risk. We live in Chicago now, I teach Early Childhood Program Management at UIC and work with Head Start programs. I have no doubt that Pastor Holmer's influence blessed my life! His family and many friends are in my heart and prayers.

Shirley Holmer

September 17, 2010

Dear Alice and familly,
We have lost touch over the years but I have many fond memories of you folks. I remember visiting Art's parents in Pennsyvania the summer of 1946. We were with Celia and Thure Holmer who lived in DuBois. Paul and I were packing up to go to India that fall. When we were on furlough in 1953 Paul spent 2 months doing deputation in the Northwest and I joined him with our 3 children in Salt Lake City where we stayed with Art's sister and husband. I remember when Erik passed away in Grand Rapids and Celia had just had surgery, but was determined to go to the funeral with Thure. I attended NOrth Park College in Chicago before finishing up at Augie and a friend of mine was married to the Methodist Minister in St. Charles and would tell me of their friendship with you folks. My son Jonathan was at Augie when Peter was there and they both were on the track team. When my youngest daughter, Grace was confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church in New Windsor, Illinois where my husband Paul was pastor for 19 years the Synod meeting was in Rock Island. Art and J. Erik Holmer, Edvin Holmer, all played hookey and came to her confirmation. My son Jon also became a pastor after attending Gettysburg and served in Ohio, Texas , and Albuquerque. He later was director of a food pantry in Denver and taught at Regis University. He is now in Chicago and was hoping to go into teaching. Recently he sent a resume to a food pantry near there and discovered that Richard is an advisor there. I am Shirley Holmer and I am the widow of Paul E. Holmer, son of Thure Holmer. I am so sorry to hear of Art's death and I am praying for you and your family. I live in Albuquerque now.

September 7, 2010

Pastor Art Holmer and Alice warmly welcomed our family at Bethlehem Lutheran Church many years ago. We are sad at his death and grateful for his love.

Linda & Ron Elsdon, Danville, CA

September 6, 2010

Delbert, Paul, and I always remembered our Bethlehem years with great affection. The refreshing ministry of Arthur Holmer was a huge part of that. God bless his memory. Carolyn Jacobson

Kristin Grayson

September 3, 2010

I have many good memories of Art Holmer as I spent time with the family and friend Mary during my high school years. I extend my deepest sympathies to the family yet celebrate the victory won as he joins the host of angels in heaven.

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