Beverly Holmes

1931 - 2021

Beverly Holmes
BRIMFIELD -- Beverly Ann Holmes, age 89, passed away peacefully in her home, with family at her bedside, 12:28 a.m. Friday, June 4, 2021.
Born August 14, 1931, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to John C. and Olive L. (Wilson) Eisele. She married Donald Wendell Holmes on July 28, 1957, in Peoria. He preceded her in death May 11, 2015, in Peoria. She was also preceded in death by her parents and one son, Dean A. Holmes, with whom, we are certain, she is enjoying much long-awaited conversation.
Surviving are their son, Mark W. Holmes of Edwards; daughter, Karen E. Holmes (A.B. Ghazanfari) of Peoria; four grandsons, Idan V. Ghazanfari, Matthew W. and Steven L. Holmes and Joseph D. Ghazanfari; two brothers, Jack R. (Judy) Eisele of Germantown Hills and Jim W. Eisele of Bartonville. Care for her, in her home, could not have been possible without the love, devotion and prayers of Joan Kelch Twylla Streitmatter and Cindy Youngren.
Beverly attended Bradley University, where she joined Sigma Kappa Sorority and made lifelong friends/sisters. She enjoyed "lunch with the girls," Mary Dinan, Joan Schmidt, Dotie Mugavero and Sherry Haig, for the rest of her life. Bev joined the debate team at Bradley. She and her partner won the National Debate Championship in the mid 1950s. She went on to teach at Princeville, IL, with a beloved co-worker, Corky Robertson, both of whom went on to Peoria Central High School, where she taught English until retirement. She was a member of Delt Kappa Gamma Proffesional Sorority, and served as president for a period of time.
She was a city girl but adapted quickly to farm living, as she married a farm boy. They enjoyed challenges together. They designed and built their own home and started a "You-pick" strawberry business. They enjoyed collecting "American Brilliant" cut glass, played Bridge, Pitch, Scrabble and doing crossword puzzles together. Bev loved to travel, and fondly remembered being placed on a train, at 12 years of age, by herself. (Her dad worked for the R.R. and knew she was in good hands!) She loved to read and garden.
Beverly was a 60-year member of Salem Lutheran Church in Peoria, where her funeral will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Pastor Craig Swenson will officiate. Visitation will be from 1 to 2:45 p.m. at the church. Guidelines regarding social distancing and wearing will be followed. Burial will be at Brimfield Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be given to Salem Lutheran Church, 1700 West War Memorial Drive, Peoria, Illinois 61614.
To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com.