Obit: Holt, Cheryl Ann #3 (1938 - 2007)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Holt, Chase, Mabie, Harnish, Melde, Bartelson, Oreskovich, Simplot, Kroll, Ivalis, Wilsmann

----Sources: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) August 29, 2007

Holt, Cheryl Ann (September 12, 1938 - August 23, 2007)

Cheryl A. Holt, 68, of Black River Falls died Thursday, August 23, 2007, in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield, following a courageous battle with cancer.

The former Cheryl Ann Mabie was born September 12, 1938, in Neillsville to Milo and Leona (Chase) Mabie. She was raised in Neillsville and graduated from Neillsville High School.

She married James "Jim" E. Holt March 16, 1957, in Neillsville, Wis. The couple first lived in Neillsville and later in Arlington and Camp Douglas before settling in Black River Falls in 1967. Cheryl and Jim celebrated their 50 wonderful years of marriage in 2007 with family and friends.

In 1973, Cheryl purchased the Black River Falls Gamble Store and also established a car wash. In 1974, her husband, Jim, joined her in the operation of the hardware store and the car wash. The couple owned the Gambles Store until 1982. Cheryl later became employed at Falls Florist before becoming employed as a secretary by her husband at Rural Insurance of Black River Falls. Cheryl retired in 2003.

She was a member of the Black River Falls United Methodist Church and sang in the church choir. She also was a member of Christian Women.

Cheryl enjoyed flowers, reading, movies, cooking and cats and dogs. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She was always a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be sadly missed by many.

Survivors include her husband, Jim; three daughters, Sherry (Tom Harnish) Holt of La Crosse and Shelley (Gary) Melde and Amy (David) Bartelson, both of Onalaska; four grandchildren, Brandon Oreskovich, Leah Raye Ann Simplot, Autumn Rose Bartelson and Daniel Bartelson; three step-grandchildren, April Bartelson, David Bartelson, Jr. and Rob Harnish; a step-great-granddaughter, Alexis Bartelson; two sisters, Jean (Merlin) Kroll of Neillsville and Kay (Steve) Ivalis of Black River Falls; a brother, Steve (Mary Jane) Mabie of Neillsville; four nieces, Barbara Wilsmann, Marianna Kroll, Tara Mabie and Heather Mabie; three nephews, Robert J. Wilsmann, Fr. Nathan Kroll and Stacy Holt; three sisters-in-law, Elizabeth "Bette" (Robert G) Wilsmann of Neillsville and Dixie Holt and Terrie Holt, both of Spencer.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother-in-law, Richard "Dick" Holt.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, August 28, 2007, at the Black River Falls United Methodist Church, and burial was in the Neillsville City Cemetery. The Rev. Kathleen Jury and Father Nathan Kroll officiated.

Casket bearers were Gary Melde, Thomas Harnish, David Bartelson, Brandon Oreskovich, Robert James Wilsmann, Steve Mabie and Daniel Bartelson.

Family and friends were invited for visitation from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls, (www.buswellfuneralhome.com), and at the church Tuesday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

The family prefers memorials to the Black River Falls United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society.