Charles Holder

The free spirit of Chuck Holder was never held by the rules of society or the constraints of authority. He found his home in the great outdoors and valued his independence above all else. However, his love for his family and friends ran deep into who he was and their love and presence brought great joy to his life.

In the midst of the era of segregation, the sixties was a time of unrest at home and abroad. With the Cuban Missile crisis at hand and the latest news pertaining to the every movements of the Russians, the United States was immersed in and felt the constant effects of these international relations. For the family of Allen and Patricia Holder of Lawton however, the year 1962 brought the joy of another child to their family. On February 18, 1962, Charles Ray was born at the Lakeview Hospital in Paw Paw. Charles, known as Chuck or Chuckie to most, was the youngest of five Holder children.

In his adolescence, Chuck, was the most challenging of their five children for his parents. Always seeking independence, he loved to be mischievous and would often get himself into trouble, either with his parents or mother nature. On one occasion, letting his curiosity get the best of him, he was stumbling around the garage and knocked a gas can over spilling some onto himself, in and of itself an innocuous occurrence. However, after exiting the garage Chuck wandered over to the burn barrel where his father had a fire going. Getting to close to the barrel the gasoline on Chuck caught aflame and ended up costing him some time in the hospital.

One other event, this time involving his grandmother’s white German Shepard, also ended him up at the receiving end of medical attention. He and his siblings would often tease their grandmother’s dog and one day finally wore thin the poor dog’s patience. The German Shepard attacked Chuck and would not let go. In attempts to get the dog off of his son, Chuck’s dad also got bit and joined his son in the doctor’s office, and both got to have their rabies shots updated.

Chuck was in Boy Scouts for a short period of time and loved to swim with his friends. After he left the scouts he still took with him his love the outdoors and adventure. His lifelong love of hunting and fishing began in his youth. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with friends, but would also seek solitude in his own outback adventures during solo excursions.

Never being one for authority whether it be from his parents or teachers, Chuck dropped out of high school to get a job after finishing the ninth grade. He sought the independence and freedom of earning a personal income and living on his own. As with all sixteen year olds the independence gained from being able to drive a car gave Chuck much of his desired freedom. According to his father, the day he was able to buy his first car must have been the happiest day of his life.

The job that Chuck made into his lifelong career was that of a construction worker. It was well fit match with his love of the outdoors and his work brought him much satisfaction. He worked primarily for concrete companies including Cherry Valley Concrete out of Grand Rapids. Installing basements of modular homes and landscaping, Chuck worked most recently for the Kim Molitor Construction Company. Chuck continued to work up until six months ago when he discovered that he had high blood pressure and suffered from a breakdown of his kidneys. Once he was put on dialysis he was no longer able to work

There was one person whose company Chuck enjoyed above all else, that of his lifelong friend Brenda. Brenda and her brother Rudy were like a second family to him. They spent many hours enjoying their senses accentuated and trips together to play Bingo, the casinos and flea markets. Chuck would often return from the flea markets with a collector pig for his sister Linda’s collection.

This past Thanksgiving holiday was a time of joy for his sister Linda as he went to her house and spent the whole day with family. Described as a “cut-up” by his family, Chuck was always cracking jokes just for the sake of laughter even in the worst of times, often those times when laughter was needed most.

Chuck often sought his independence and time alone, but there was never a doubt in the mind of those who knew him that he loved them and cared about them very deeply.

Charles Ray “Chuck” Holder died on December 29, 2004 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. He was preceded in death by his brother Larry Holder, his grandparents: Mark & Evelyn Holder and Garth Kimble. Chuck’s family includes his parents, Allen and Patricia, his two brothers: Richard (Donna Paul) Holder of Marcellus and Timothy Holder of Marquette, one sister, Linda (Patrick) Conner of Mattawan and a lifelong friend Brenda Mitchell of Lawton.

Friends may visit with Chuck’s family on Monday, January 3rd, 2005 at 6:00-8:00 PM at the Betzler & Thompson Life Story Funeral HomesTM on M-40 South off I-94 in Paw Paw. (657-3870) A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Tuesday, January 4th, 2005 at 11:00 AM. Interment at the Oak Grove Cemetery will follow immediately afterwards. Please visit Chuck’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory, send flowers or make a memorial contribution to the Kidney Foundation.