Vernita Holdmeyer

1931 - 2023

Vernita Holdmeyer, nee Feldmann, 91, Washington, passed away Sunday, June 4, 2023, in peace surrounded by family, in her home.

Vernita was born Sept. 20, 1931, in Concord Hill to Vincent Feldmann and wife Louise, nee Engemann. She attended St. Ignatius Loyola Grade School and graduated from Marthasville High School as valedictorian. After graduating early, she was too young to enter nursing school, so she decided to work. While waiting, she met her future husband, Odo Holdmeyer, and after he returned from the Korean War, they were married May 30, 1955. Moving together to Washington, they began raising a family and soon moved to the farm where she lived until her death.

She was very active both in her children's lives and St. Gertrude Parish in Krakow. Always a social person, she was at the center of a large group of friends, enjoying hospitality and road trips together. She loved teaching her children new things and expanding their horizons. She was an avid baker and well-known for her desserts! As her children grew up, Vernita became a successful Avon salesperson, turning her social base into a thriving business and winning many local and national awards over her 40-year career. Faith, family and friends were her deepest passions, and she worked hard to maintain an active role with them until the end.

She is survived by her sister, Joyce Unnerstall; her loving children, Kurt and wife Paty, Marietta, Georgia, and their children, Nicholas and Alexa; Daniel and wife Dorthea, Washington, and their children, Sean and wife Caitlin, Stephanie, Stephen and Seth; Sue and husband Peter Hoover, Duxbury, Massachusetts; John and wife Daun, Clarkson Valley, and their children, Emily, Adelaine and Julia; Jeanne and husband Tom Gierer, Washington, and their children, Carmen, Adam and Emma; and Patrick and wife Susan, Washington, and their children, Kinsey and Rachel Fortner and husband Jake; other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her adoring husband, Odo; her dear sister, Jane (Feldmann) Herbst; and her parents, Vincent and Louise Feldmann.

Visitation was scheduled for Friday, June 9, from 4-8 p.m. at Oltmann Funeral Home, Washington, with a parish rosary at 3:45 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at St. Gertrude Catholic Church, Krakow, with the Rev. Carl Scheble officiating.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Gertrude Catholic Church.

The Holdmeyer family is being served by Oltmann Funeral Home, Washington.