Herbert Frederick Holste, age 95, of Ludell, Kansas, was called to his
heavenly home on July 26, 2020. He was born on December 1, 1924, at the
Holste farm northeast of Ludell, the son of Herman and Mary Hoffbauer
Holste.
God clothed Herbert with the righteousness of Christ when he was
baptized on December 14, 1924 at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Ludell by
the Rev. Paul Strege. The Holy Spirit kept Herbert in the Christian
faith as he was confirmed on April 10, 1938 at Immanuel, and as his
membership moved to Grace Lutheran Church and then to Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Atwood. He served in numerous capacities in this time frame,
including church council secretary and trustee. Attending church was
important to Herb, and when he was no longer able to be present
physically, he would still worship through technology.
Herbert attended Immanuel Lutheran School for his elementary education.
He graduated from Atwood High School in 1942. He worked on the family
farm at Ludell until 1950 when he joined the Army. Trained in Fort Sill,
Oklahoma, he went on to serve his country in the Korean War repairing
radios in Babenhausen, Germany. He returned to Ludell following his two
years of service and began farming and eventually dairying with his
brother Gerhard and family under the Holste Brothers partnership.
Following Gerhard’s retirement from farming, Herb continued to dairy and
farm with nephew Harlan and family. He retired in 1993 but remained
living at his home in Ludell until his move to the Good Samaritan in
Atwood in 2018.
As the eighth of eleven children, Herb enjoyed his family immensely. He
was close with his brothers, sisters, and their spouses, some who lived
locally, and others who resided in distant states. He especially
enjoyed extended summer visits from his brother Bob, and wife Betty, and
his brother Herman, and wife Barb. He was blessed with 34 nieces and
nephews who would keep in touch through mail or visits while in the
area.
Herb enjoyed traveling and was able to travel both throughout the states
and into Europe and the Holy Lands. He once noted that one of his
favorite trips was to Germany. As a single man, his travel companions
included Johnny Dunker and Edwin Reuber as well as family members.
Herb served in his community as a member of the COOP board and he spent
more than 50 years on the Board of the Farmers State Bank. He also
served as a Rawlins County Fair Board member.
His hobbies included photography and woodworking. In his earlier years
he loved creating slides of vacations and family events. As an
accomplished woodworker, he built numerous pieces of furniture for his
own use and the enjoyment of others. A particularly rewarding project
was assisting with the altar, baptismal font, and communion rail which
are in use at Redeemer today. He was a ready volunteer for Laborers for
Christ when the educational wing was added to Redeemer.
Herb enjoyed sports. As a young adult, he played softball on the Ludell
team. Later, he followed the Atwood Buffaloes and the K-State Wildcats.
He would often be found in the stands at the high school on Friday
evenings watching the football or basketball games. It was especially
important to him to attend a sporting event if a niece or nephew or
great-niece or nephew were participating. On autumn Saturdays, Herb
could be found faithfully watching Wildcat football from his recliner
and was always ready to talk about the ups and downs of the game.
Herbert was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, John, Clifton,
Gerhard, Arthur, and Herman; sisters, Laurine Holste, Dorothy Lewis,
Edith Wasserman, and MaryAnn Oelke; brothers-in-law, Jack Lewis and
Gilbert Wasserman; sisters-in-law, Velma Holste, Irene Holste, Lorna
Holste, and Doris Holste; nephew Duane Oelke; niece Traci Schmitt;
nephew-in-law Butch Schartz; great-nephew Jonathan Ruda, and great-great
nephews, Easton Holste and Daxton Willard. He is survived by brother
Bob Holste and wife Betty, of Oviedo, Florida; brother-in-law Paul
Oelke, of Hoxie, and sister-in-law Barbara Holste, of Auburn Hills,
Michigan; as well as 32 nieces and nephews, 72 great-nieces and nephews,
and many great-great nieces and nephews.
Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 30, 2020, at Baalmann Mortuary,
Atwood. Funeral Service is 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2020, at
Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Atwood, with burial in Immanuel
Lutheran Cemetery, Ludell. Memorials are suggested to Lutherans For Life
or Jayhawk Theater and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box
391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit
www.baalmannmortuary.com