Steven Daniel Holke

Steven Daniel Holke, age 80, of Springfield, Missouri passed away Sunday, December 25th, 2022. Steve was born February 26, 1942, to Norman and Helena (Pestinger) Holke in Salina, Kansas. He attended Sacred Heart school K-12th grade and played basketball. He earned degrees in accounting and finance from Kansas State University. It was there that he met Mary E. Carson. Steve and Mary were married in Springfield, MO on August 14th, 1965. They lived in Dayton, OH where Steven worked for General Motors and earned an MBA from the University of Dayton. The family moved to Detroit, Michigan with General Motors. In 1974 Steven and his family returned to Kansas to work with his father, Norman Holke, in the lumber business. The family lived in Ellsworth where Steven owned Ellsworth Lumber Company for more than 20 years, and Lincoln Lumber, was involved in the community, St. Bernard's Catholic Church, and many activities of his children. Steve became an investment broker for A.G. Edwards, and moved to Springfield, MO in 1998. He was a dedicated member of the Catholic diocese as a lector, participated in prayer groups, eucharistic ministry and parish council.
Steve was blessed with 4 children, their spouses, and 11 grandchildren who kept him busy with their activities and family events. He loved every minute of being a dad and Papa. His faith and family were the focus of his life. He gave of his time and love willingly, happily, and unselfishly. Some of Steve's great pleasures were celebrating holidays, family birthdays, children's events, family vacations, watching sports, and golf. He especially enjoyed family Fourth of July gatherings at their home. For decades every January, Steve and Mary traveled to Florida to enjoy family time, golf, the warm sun, and beautiful beaches. Steve and Mary celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2015 surrounded by family. Day to day they were devoted to each other and their family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Norman and Helena (Pestinger) Holke and his wife Mary Elizabeth (Carson) Holke. He is survived by his sister Mary Lu and her husband James Napier of Atlanta, Georgia and his sister Norma Sue and her husband John Uhran of South Bend, Indiana, and their families. He is also survived by three daughters, one son and eleven grandchildren: daughter Jennifer M. Mulholland and her husband Andrew Mulholland and their children Carson and Elizabeth, daughter Angela T. Gericke, her children Haley, Emma, Benjamin and Angela's husband Rodney Gericke, daughter Melinda A. Jurczak and her husband Mark Jurczak and their children Ryan and Nicholas, and son Daniel W. Holke and his wife Lisa Holke and their children Joshua, Lauren, William, and Noah.
The visitation will be Friday, December 30th at 12:45 p.m. followed by the funeral Mass at 1:30 p.m. at Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th Street, Overland Park, Kansas. A graveside service will be held in Springfield, MO on Saturday, December 31st at 11:00a.m. at St. Mary's Cemetery, 2400 W Mt Vernon St, Springfield, MO 65802 (W. Mt Vernon Street and S Forest Avenue)
If desired in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Santa Marta 13800 W. 116th Street, Olathe, KS 66062. Please identify memorial donations.