Michael Allen Holland, 62, died Nov. 19, 2007, at his home in Oak Harbor. He was the sixth of seven children born Nov. 20, 1944, in Rogers, Minn., to Joseph and Erma (DeShaw) Holland. Michael lost his mother when he was 10 and his father when he was 11. Michael’s older siblings decided they would raise the youngest of the children.
Michael decided at age 17 to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He was a Vietnam era veteran, serving during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following his military service, Michael began working for the Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD). He was their Human Resources Manager when he left the PUD after 15 years of service. Michael was married to Alice Anne Hamilton on April 25, 1976, in Everett. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from City College in 1977.
Michael and Anne moved to California with a brief stop in Sacramento and then on to Fresno, where they lived for 20 years. Michael became the owner of his own business, serving as an Indoor Air Quality owner/manager, specializing in mold remediation. Michael retired and he and Anne moved to Oak Harbor in 2005.
Michael was a very private person. He was known as a man of character, honesty, fun loving, gentle and a man so very proud of his family. He was especially proud of his two grandsons serving with the U.S. Army. He enjoyed golf, fishing, tying flies, reading anything and everything, maintaining a keen awareness of the political scene, football, including the U.W. Huskies and the Fresno Bulldogs, walks at City Beach and visits to Starbucks. His passion in life was his love for the church.
Michael was a member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church of Oak Harbor and the Knights of Columbus, John O’Brien Council 3361 of Oak Harbor.
Michael is survived by his wife Anne at the family home;; two daughters, Diana Holland Caldwell and her children, Maloree, Michael and Ryley Caldwell, all of Marysville, Wash., and Dana Michael Holland wife Diana and their children Keller, Dessa and Bailee Jo Holland, all of Arlington, Wash.; and by stepson Mark D. Keiper and wife Sinead of Tucson, Ariz., and their children, Jared Keiper of Sioux Falls, S.D., Melissa Keiper and great-granddaughter Khaira of Queen Creek, Ariz., Sgt. Jeffrey Keiper and wife Victoria of Fort Hood, Texas, Pvt. Garrett Keiper of Ft. Eustis, Va.; stepdaughter Mary E. Smith and husband Frederick and their children, Jessica Kohler and husband John and great-granddaughter Hailey Kohler, Dessa DeMonbrun, Cassandra Smith and Cole Smith, all of Marysville, and Lori A. Lane and husband Charles of Bellingham. Six brothers and sisters, Betty Beaudry of Beaver Creek, Ore., James Holland of Palmer, Ariz., Thomas Holland of Hudson, Wisc., Marie Lewis of Mesa, Ariz., Patty Celt of Eden Prairie, Minn., and Jerald Holland of Mesa, Ariz., also survive.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 am Monday, Nov. 26, at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church with Rev. Jerome Kienzle as Celebrant. Rosary will proceed the Mass at 9 a.m. A reception for family and friends will follow at the Parish Hall. Cremation was held with graveside services at Maple Leaf Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to Skagit Valley Hospice or Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. Arrangements are entrusted to Burley.