October 15, 1923 – Sunday, January 22, 2012
Service Information
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo,
Saturday, January 28th, 2012
2:00 P.M.
Visitation Information
AT THE CHURCH
Friday, January 27th, 2012
1-7:30 P.M.
Evelyn (Evie) Dorothy Sophia Holland, 88 of Buffalo MN passed from this life into the arms of the Lord in whom she trusted on Sunday January 22, 2012 at Allina Hospital, Buffalo MN.
Visitation will be held in the Family Life Center at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Buffalo, MN on Friday January 27, 2012 between 1:00 pm and 7:30 pm with a prayer service to start at 7:30 pm. Visitation will continue on Saturday January 28, 2012 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 pm in the Family Life Center at St. John’s Lutheran Church. The Committal Service and interment will be at the Lakeview Cemetery in Buffalo MN following the funeral service. Pastors James Disney and Roger Klemz will be conducting the memorial services for Evie. The Peterson Chapel, Buffalo MN is serving the family.
Evie was born at Eitel Hospital, Minneapolis, MN October 15, 1923 to Carl and Ruby (Lindstrom) Gunnerson. She and the family lived in Minneapolis until about 1926, and then Johnsville, MN until 1933 when they moved to Annandale MN.
Evie attended the Peterson School at Johnsville and Gunnery Public School at Annandale and graduated from Annandale High School in 1941. Evie attended Swedish Hospital School of Nursing graduating in 1945.
After graduating from nursing school, Evie joined the Army Nurse Corps at the request of her father Carl, who had fought during WWI and knew how important nurses were to the wounded soldiers. She served as a 2LT from April 1945 to September 1946. She was stationed at Fort Carson, CO and O’Reilley Army Hospital in Springfield, MO.
Evie married Howard W. Holland on October 8, 1948 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN. She and Howard farmed in Buffalo (1948 to 1951) and French Lake, MN (1951-1956) before they purchased the farm in Buffalo where she has lived until her death. They were blessed with 48 years together before Howard’s death in 1996.
Evie worked at Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis prior to her marriage to Howard Holland and later, Catlin Hospital and Buffalo Memorial Hospital between 1946 and 1972. Evie worked as a school nurse for the Buffalo Public School District 877 from 1972 to 1990.
Evie was active at St. John’s Lutheran Church and taught Sunday school for more than 50 years and served on many committees and projects including Health Cabinet, Project Compassion, Mary Circle, LWML and MCCL to name a few.
Evie was honored to be Buffalo’s Most Honored Citizen in 1996 and a runner-up for Wright County Most Honored Citizen in 2003. Governor Rudy Perpich declared October 24, 1989 as “Evelyn Holland Day” in Minnesota for her work as the school nurse for the Buffalo School District 877 providing nursing care for several schools and more than 4,000 children and staff during her tenure of 17 years. Evie and Howard served as volunteers for the Buffalo High School All-night Graduation parties for several years.
The School Nurse Organization of Minnesota (SNOM) recognized Evie for her outstanding contributions to school nursing and long-term support of children’s health at the SNOM Annual Conference on November 2, 2007.
During her retirement, Evie continued to be involved in supporting children’s health by participating in school programs including Teen Parenting (TAPP), and community programs including Buffalo Prolife, Wright County MADD and the Wright County Child Abuse Task Force. She was active in the local Lioness/Lions Club and American Legion with Howard as well as after his death. Evie was a member of the Mile Square Neighborhood club since 1956 as well as a member of the Buffalo Unit of Farm Bureau.
Evie loved to dance, fly planes, and ride motorcycles with Howard and was an avid traveler with her family traveling throughout the USA, Canada, the Bahamas, Sweden, Norway, England and Holland. She especially loved to visit Kauai, Hawaii with Chrys and Jason.
Evie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, God-mother, and dear friend, to countless neighbors and friends. She was very proud to be the second of four consecutive generations to serve in the U.S. Army that started with her father Carl, a runner in WWI and has continued with her son Rodney Holland, who retired as a Lt. Col., in 2011 and her grandson Jason who is currently serving in Kuwait.
Evie was committed to her faith and never missed the opportunity to witness her love for Jesus in the way she lived her life whether it be to a stranger seated next to her on a plane or within her own family and friends.
Evie is survived by her daughters ChrysMarie Suby of Edina MN, Jolie Holland of Buffalo MN, and son Rodney Holland (Lora) of Bloomington MN. Her legacy continues with her grandchildren: Jason Suby, John and Ben Holland, Jessica Ruth, Sirena and Raquel Powell; nieces, nephews and god-children.
Evie was preceded in death by: her parents, Carl and Ruby (Lindstrom) Gunnerson of Annandale, MN, her husband Howard W. Holland, (1996), twin children who died at birth (1951), granddaughter Johanna Holland (2005), brother Rodney Gunnerson (2005) and his wife Eleanor (2011) of Cokato, MN, her sister Ethelyn Schultz (2006) and her husband Louis (1998) of Annandale, MN.
Evie Holland will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Donations in memory of Evelyn Holland, should be made directly to the following organization of your choice: St. John’s Lutheran Church, Focus on the Family, Billy Graham Ministries, Buffalo American Legion, Buffalo Lioness Club, Buffalo ProLife, Buffalo Teenage Pregnancy Program (TAPP), and Wight County MADD.
Very sad to hear this news. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and yours in this time of sorrow.
She was a beauty to behold and an icon to many. Prayers for the family. We all have another angel to watch over us.
You are in our thoughts and prayers. I have so many fond memories of working with Evie through the years.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. I have so many happy memories of working with Evie. She was a wonderful person and a life well lived.
My prayers are with you and the family. All the good memories of such a sweet, loving lady.
Your mom was so kind, so caring, and such a wonderful person. She will be missed by everyone. My prayers go out to your family at this difficult time.
Vicki
I truly believe Evelyn will be missed by so many individuals she has touched. She was a beautiful individual inside and out and I will cherish every conversation I have had with her. She was an all inspiring nurse, one mentor that I will always look up to. Evelyn, your smile and laughter was contagious and your kindness was heartfelt. God bless you and your family as we look back and celebrate your meaningful life.
To the family of Evie;
As I think of your Mom/Grandma, I think of all the many, many times she has helped our family. Your parents’ farm was right next to my Grandma and Grandpa Hayes’ farm. I met Evie, she told me, when I was 4 years old. If I remember right, that is the year they moved there and where she stayed until now. Evie was there for my family more than I could ever remember with sincere love, care and help always. As a nurse at Buffalo Hospital, neighbor to my Grandma, friends to my parents, school nurse when my children were students at Buffalo, could call that precious woman on the phone and always set me down the right path of thinking once again. Her advice after a kind word was, “Instead of going to the phone go to the Throne” (the God fearing woman she chose to be)helped many throughout her life. Your Mom and Grandma was loved by me and appreciated. You all have my deepest sympathy Chris, Rodney, Jolie and families.
Geri
From all of the members at the School Nurse Organization of MN, we are sorry for your loss of Evie. I did not know her but many members are still very much aware of her advocacy work for students. We are very grateful for her work. Mary Heiman, SNOM President
On behalf of the School Nurse Organization of Minnesota we are sorry to hear of your loss. SNOM members certainly are aware of Evie’s advocacy for student health needs and the role of the school nurse. We are grateful for that.
We are saddened to hear of Evy’s passing. She was such a sweet lady! She now gets to rest with all those that left her too soon! Prayers to your entire family during this difficult time.
Thoughts and prayers are with all of you. So many precious memories of such a lovely lady. She will be missed.
Evie was such a special person to our family. We were together for Church and 4h and youth groups and just hanging at the farm.The legendary cookie baking party and the love, hugs and stories of all the things She had done in her life.
Dear Holland family:
Very sorry to hear of Evie’s (Mrs Holland as I’ll always know her)…she lived a wonderful life, and was such a wonderful person. The world would be a much better place if there were more people like her in it !!!
We lived next door to Evi for 38 years, she was the best neighbor. We could not begin to list all the things she did for us. She will always be in our hearts.
The Dynan Family
I have so many wonderful memories of seeing Mrs. Holland in her white nurses uniform walking the halls of the different schools of #877. My thoughts and prayers go out to you at this difficult time.
Evie was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met! I had the pleasure of working with her at school several times and she was a great pleasure to help out! My thoughts and prayers are with your family! I will dearly miss her!
Jolie, Chris, Rodney and your families:
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your Mother. I have many memories of her when we were all kids and other families lived next to each other. Many happy times. She will be missed by so many. My heart goes out to you as you go through this difficult time.
You have my deepest sympathies. She was very special, dear lady to me. She had always called me her special one when I was in school. She will be missed greatly.
I’m sorry about your lose. Remember all the good times and let them live on in your hearts. Love you all.
Our thoughts and prayers to the family. So many memories of such a lovely lady. She will be missed.
I am so sorry for your loss. Evie was such a giving volunteer. I feel privileged to have been able to spend time with her as she volunteered with Wright County Human Services over the years.
Your mom was so wonderful. She was such a good friend to my own mother, and she touched so many lives during her nursing career. She will be missed by so many people. My thoughts are with you all.
Evie’s Family,
Your mom was the nicest person to know. We had a neat friendship in school. She always had a smile and a nice word to say to everyone. I will miss her greatly. I am unable to attend her service but my heart and prayers are with you all.