Edward J. Holden of Jefferson, Iowa
Born: July 3, 1930
Died: January 31, 2004
Age: 73

Services: 11:00am Wednesday, Feb 4, 2004, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Jefferson
Interment: Wednesday afternoon at Scranton Twp. Cemetery, Scranton, Iowa
Visitation: after 9:00am Tuesday, Feb 3, at St. Joseph's Parish Center, Jefferson
Vigil For The Deceased: 7:00pm Tuesday, Feb 3, at St. Joseph's Parish Center, Jefferson
Visitation with the family will follow the Vigil Service at St. Joseph's Parish Center in Jefferson, until 8:30pm Tuesday.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph's Religious Education; St. Joseph's Improvement Fund; or the Greene County Community Center.

Edward Joseph Holden was born on July 3, 1930 in Carroll, Iowa. His parents were Edward James Holden and Gertrude Hennessey Holden. Edward graduated from Scranton Consolidated School in 1948 and from Coe College in 1952 with a double major in Business and Economics. He served in the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1955 and then came home to farm. On February 4, 1956, Edward married Mary Ann Brunner of Jefferson.

Eddie was a member of St. Paul’s and then St. Joseph’s Catholic Churches. He was also a member of the Jefferson Rotary Club. Ed was currently serving as a director on the board of Home State Bank (where he had served for 42 years), the Raccoon Valley Bank board in Perry, Iowa, and on the Jefferson Park and Recreation Board. Ed had also served on the Scranton Telephone Board, the Greene County Economic Development Commission, and the Federal Land Bank. He was a director and Vice President of the board of Agri Industries and Agri Grain Marketing of West Des Moines. He also served on the Iowa State University President’s Advisory Board. During the 1980’s, Ed was appointed by Governor Terry Branstad to serve as an ombudsman to Iowa farmers facing economic crisis.

Edward’s greatest joy was his family. His second greatest joy was being a farmer. He was an avid sports fan and was frequently in attendance at local events.

Ed Holden died suddenly on January 31, 2004 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson. He was 73 years of age.

Ed is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; his five children: Rosemary Hoyt and her husband David of Jefferson, IA; E. Michael Holden and his wife Sue of Scranton, IA; Mary Jo Kluesner and her husband Roger of Ames, IA; Dr. Charles Holden of Lexington Park, MD; and Ann-Marie Kendell and her husband Gary of Indianola, IA; eleven grandchildren; and his sister Elizabeth Whitnell of Arlington Heights, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Helen Katherine Kidwell, and two brothers-in-law Verne Whitnell and William Kidwell.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph’s Religious Education, St. Joseph’s Improvement Fund, or the Greene County Community Center. Services were arranged by Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home of Jefferson.