Darrell "Gooser" Holman

Darrell E. Holman age 93 of Neenah passed away peacefully at Copperstone Assisted Living on Monday, January 5, 2026. Darrell was born in Waupaca on April 25, 1932, son of the late Audrey (Cady) and Clifford Holman.
He started school at Butternut Ridge in Weyauwega, went on to Waupaca Grade School and graduated from Waupaca High School. He participated in track, basketball and football – which was his favorite sport. He always worked to help his family and even as a youngster he wasn't afraid of hard work. He carried coal in and ashes out for a neighbor at 5 cents per week. In high school he worked pulling irrigation hoses for a local vegetable farm and after that worked on the railroad. He had a lot of energy and still managed to get into mischief!
Darrell continued his education at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and subsequently enlisted in the US Navy for four years. Upon discharge from the Navy he enrolled in college at UW Stevens Point where he and Nancy were reunited and married.
Darrell was hired by Kimberly Clark in 1955 in production and worked his way up to head of the hand-sheet lab where one of his responsibilities was to assist in the set-up of Kimberly Clark labs at facilities in other locations including operations in Canada, Michigan and the southern United States. After 35 years of service, he retired in 1990.
Darrell and Nancy always had an interest in horses and in their free time they decided to show and eventually raise quarter horses. Their work eventually led him to join a number of respected quarter horse associations including the Wisconsin Quarter Horse Association, the Amateur Quarter Horse Association and the NEWQHA. His dedication and integrity were just some of the traits that led to his election as President of both the Amateur Quarter Horse Association and the NEWQHA.
Darrell enjoyed sports of all kinds. In his spare time, he enjoyed league bowling with family, friends and co-workers. He and Nancy also attended many Professional Bull Riding events with family traveling from Milwaukee to Des Moines and all the way out to Pueblo and Las Vegas for the championships. The two of them traveled by cruise ship to the West Indies, the Bahamas and Alaska. He was also an avid swimmer and passed his love of the water on to his children by teaching them how to swim. He particularly enjoyed swimming in the Caribbean when vacationing on Grand Turk Island with family while Nancy walked along the seashore searching for sea glass.
Darrell is survived by his loving wife, Nancy; daughter, Darcy (Karen Sharp) and his son, Darren Holman. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Shana Ray (Jeff Somers) and Aaron (Sarah) Ray, great grandchildren: Max and Lola Ray; his brother-in-law, John Peterson; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and other loving family and friends. He is dearly missed by his beloved dog, Gracie.
Darrell was preceded in death by his daughter, Denise Ray; his sister, Verlea "Toots" Morey; brother-in-law, Jerome Morey; and sister-in-law, Sharon Peterson; as well as his devoted pup, Celeste.
The Memorial Service for Darrell will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Kessler Fahrenkrug Funeral Home, 304 S. Commercial Street, Neenah, Wisconsin 54956. A Time to Gather will be held from 11:00 AM until the hour of the service at the funeral home. Following the service Military Honors will be performed by the Neenah-Menasha Funeral Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Darrell's name to:
Neenah Animal Shelter, 2475 Progress Court, Neenah, Wisconsin 54956
920-722-9544
https://www.neenahanimalshelter.org/donate.html