Samuel Holmes

Samuel David Holmes, age 74, Ripon, passed away Wednesday, October 8, 2008, at his home, after a courageous battle against cancer.

Sam was born on February 22, 1934, in New London, WI, the son of Fred and Ruth (Rohrer) Holmes. Sam was named after his grandfathers, Sam S. Holmes and David J. Rohrer. He graduated from Clintonville High School in 1952, and Ripon College in 1957, where he ran track and cross country and belonged to the Merriman Phi Kappa Pi fraternity. On August 11, 1956, he married Yvonne Gatzke in Ripon. Sam was a hard worker and a do-er. He was an insurance agent for over 40 years with the Tinkham Agency, Tinkham-Holmes Agency, the Holmes Agency and the Phoenix Group. Until 2003, he owned Holmes Manufacturing supplying boards and darts to dartball players across the country. In 2002, he and his daughter Heidi opened a retail outdoor furniture store in Ripon and he then became known as “Sam the Patio Man”. He was an avid sports fan. Through the years he was active in the Ripon Jaycees, Kiwanis Club, United Way, AFS, Young Life and was on the foundation board for Diverse Options. Sam was a member of the Ripon Methodist Church and Ripon Community Church. He was honored to be the “Festmaster” for Riponfest 2005. He would do anything for his family and help anyone who needed it. Sam considered being a father and grandfather a privilege. He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.

Survivors include his wife, Yvonne of Ripon; daughters, Beth Revello and Heidi (Paul) Semenske both of Ripon; grandson, Nicholas Revello of Ripon; step-grandchildren, Adrian Semenske and Angelica Stahl both of Ripon; sisters, Mary Ruth (Dwain) Johnson and Barbara (Glenn) Giersbach both of Clintonville; mother-in-law, Ethel Gatzke of Ripon and 3 nieces, Sarah Frankowski, Susan Rascon and Anne Long all of Clintonville. Sam is preceded in death by his parents, twin infant sons, Jay and Jeffrey and his father-in-law, Clarence Gatzke.

Visitation for Sam Holmes will be held on Monday, October 13, 2008, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home and again on Tuesday, October 14, 2008, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Ripon Community Church, Ripon.

Funeral Service for Sam Holmes will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Ripon Community Church with Pastor Mike Holba officiating. Interment will be held in Hillside Cemetery, Ripon. Memorials may be given to, UW Madison Paul Carbone Cancer Research Fund: UW Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, 600 Highland Ave, K4/658, Madison, WI 53792-6164.

Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, Ripon, is assisting the family.
www.butzinmarchant.com



DEATH

The only hope to mortal given,
Until he draws his lastest breath,
To solve the mystery of Heaven-
That he must die an earthly death.

And what is death? A great adventure.
A glad relief from pain and ills,
A payment of the last debenture,
And settlement of debt and bills.

Some hope, some doubts, perhaps some fears,
A time of sorrow and of tears.
No more of love, no use for prayer,
Though friends, the garb of mourning wear.

We mortals can but grieve and grope,
And ponder the eternal plan.
Our only solace now is hope,
The secret is not given to man.

We watch the birds, the flowers, the leaves-
The glorious carpet nature weaves,
The garden where the roses grow,
The summer breeze, the winter snow.

And heavenly planets rise and set-
While God remembers, men forget.
We mortals, like the leaves, must fall;
Omnipotence controls it all.

Written by Sam’s grandfather
Sam S. Holmes