Emma Holtz

Emma Ida Holtz, age 90, of Willmar, died Tuesday afternoon, June 3, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 6, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Raymond with Rev. Allan Bjorklund and Rev. Wayne Kopitzke officiating. Interment will be in the Lake Lillian Community Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Emma Ida Holtz was born August 15, 1917, in Lone Tree Township, Chippewa County, north of Raymond, to Paul & Ida (Juettner) Schueler. She was the eighth of twelve children born to Paul & Ida. She grew up in the Raymond area and was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Raymond. Emma received her education in Sunnyside rural school. On April 10, 1942, she married Reuben W. Peterson at St. John's Lutheran Church in Raymond. They farmed near Lake Lillian and in 1960 moved to a farm near Kandiyohi. Reuben passed away March 7, 1972. On June 15, 1977 she married Irvin Holtz of Raymond where they resided. Irvin passed away May 1, 1997. She was an active member of First Lutheran Church of Lake Lillian, Ebenezer Lutheran Church of Kandiyohi and St. John's Lutheran Church of Raymond. Emma enjoyed crocheting and cooking for her family. She loved to be with her family and grandchildren. Another favorite pastime was playing cards, which she was doing at the time she became ill.

Emma is survived by a son, Paul (and Mary) Peterson of New London; three daughters, Janice (and Warren) Teeple of Wasilla, Alaska, Marlys (and Leroy) Handt of Brooten and Barbara (and Gordon) Hjelle of New London; ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Herbert (and Rieka) Schueler of Raymond and two sisters, Clara Dunlavy of Raymond and Verna Loge of Willmar. Also surviving are two stepsons, Dale (and Andra) Holtz of New Ulm and Darrel (and Judy) Holtz of Gilbert and a stepdaughter, Kathy (and Garvin) Marcus of Raymond, besides other relatives and friends.
Emma was preceded in death by parents; both husbands, Reuben Peterson in 1972 and Irvin Holtz in 1997; five brothers, Erwin, Arthur, Paul, Oscar and Kurt Schueler and three sisters, Gertrude McLane, Evelyn Peterson and Martha in infancy.