Willis B. Holtwick
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Willis B Holtwick, age 85, of Lee’s Summit, MO passed away Monday, February 17 at John Knox Village Hospice. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am at Terrace Lake United Methodist church, located at 4500 Red Bridge Road on Saturday, February 22, 2020. Visitation will be held prior to the service at 10:00am. Graveside service will be held at Wellsville, KS Cemetery following luncheon.
Willis was born in Princeton, KS the son of Jasper Lineaus and Ruth Anna (Geringer) Holtwick. Willis graduated from Wellsville, KS High School in 1952. Willis married his high school girlfriend Margot Elaine Miller in 1953. Willis attended the University of Kansas and graduated in 1956.
Willis was an electrical engineer, moved to Kansas City and worked for CAC in Lee’s Summit, Collins Radio in California, Torotel of Grandview, MO and Hisonic of Olathe, KS, where he designed electrical devices for decades.
Willis was a member of Terrace Lake United Methodist Church, where he was an active member of the Men’s Group and was Treasurer. He enjoyed putting on the Valentines Day dinner and program every year. Willis had a big sense of humor and had a joke to go with every conversation. He enjoyed singing and reciting poetry.
Willis is survived by his wife Margot, daughter Janice (Holtwick) Rehg and husband Eddy Rehg of Plano, TX, grandson Daniel Rehg, his wife Brittney Rehg, great-grandson’s Caleb and Ethan of Midland, TX, grandson Thomas Rehg of Galveston, TX, 2 nieces and 3 nephews and several cousins
Willis was well loved and will be missed by all who knew him.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Terrace Lake United Methodist Church, John Knox Village Hospice and the American Cancer Society.
Willis will be missed by many but most of all by his family. He was a very kind, gentle man always willing to help wherever he could.
Willis (“Willy” in our younger days) was my Number 1 cousin. Willis was born in Princeton, KS – I was born in Princeton 10 days prior.
Willis’ father Jasper (Uncle Jap to me) operated a vehicle repair shop with fuel sales on US 59 highway in Princeton. We nearly set the garage on fire one day, while playing with the liquid cement used for patching tire tubes. We would pull the dauber from the can, and light it with a match, and display it like fireworks!
During our early youth, I spent many, many days and nights at the Holtwick farm just south of the New Hope Church, 10 miles east of Ottawa. Willis and I enjoyed numerous activities, particularly in the timber just south of the house. A great swimming hole, and a spring that ran cold fresh water during the summer. We could also heat hot dogs by finding a relief valve, on one of the numerous natural gas lines, in the timber. We would open the valve, light the emitting gas, and cook hot dogs!
Uncle Jap was not aware that Willis and I could make his small Farmall tractor slide sideways , on wet grass, by going full speed, and then locking up one wheel with the hand brake! God Bless & Rest In Peace.
I loved my father, Chester, and my two uncles, J Linn and Willis. My dad passed in 1983, followed by J LInn in 2017 and now my younger uncle, Willis.
Willis married Margot Miller in 1953, when I was 10 years old. A few years earlier, I had come to live on my grandfather’s farm (Willis’ dad Jasper) and so I had witnessed the early courtship of Willis and Margot .In fact I often tried to sneak aboard the back seat of the car when they were off on a date. I had big puppy love for Margot at that time.
I said I loved my uncles, I held both in high esteem. Willis was always willing to share stories and I felt he was honestly interested in my welfare as well as the welfare of others. I am told he had a great singing voice like uncle J LInn, but I am afraid I did not inherit that trait from the family. Well, I will just close by saying “Willy, I miss you!”. Glad we had the chance to get together earlier this year! Love, Tim
Such a beautiful tribute to my Uncle Willis… All 3 brothers are together again and I am comforted knowing they will be at heaven’s gate to help me enter with their warmth and compassion.
I miss all of them terribly and hope I don’t see them real soon… ha ha.
Love to all our family members and it was great to see everyone last summer.
Be blessed and be a blessing.
Katie Holtwick