Dennis R. Holtz of Rudd, IA has gone home, leaving behind a circle of those who loved him.
What remains is memory — and the gratitude of those he loved.
There is no greater gift than the one a parent gives by simply being present.
Dennis R. Holtz, 86, of Rudd, Iowa, passed away May 4, 2026, at the Nora Springs Care Center after battling lung disease for the last several years.
There will be no funeral services; however, a Celebration of Life will be held May 16 from 1-3 pm at the Rudd Historical Society on Chickasaw St., Rudd, IA.
Memorials will be donated back to the Rudd community history house, library, and re department.
Dennis was born at his grandmother's home in Rudd on November 15, 1939, to Ralph and Bernice (Schuster) Holtz. He graduated from the Rudd High School in 1957.
On November 12, 1961, he was united in marriage to Patty Stiller, and they had three children, Daryl, Dale, and Paula.
Dennis worked at the Rudd Co-op for 30 years, after which he decided to work for himself. He always preached the concept of "pay yourself rst," and this allowed him to start up his own woodworking business in his garage. He started designing kitchens and making furniture, and the garage no longer was big enough for his growing business. An opportunity arose for him to purchase a building a few blocks from his home, and there Holtz Woodworking was born. He spent countless hours over the next 30 years creating, designing, and building,
Dennis loved country and bluegrass music and had several instruments in the home, often playing his guitar along with the entertainers on Hee Haw. He and Patty traveled near and far for bluegrass festivals while staying in a van that he assembled and used as their camper.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patty; two sons, Daryl and his wife Laura of Mason City, their children, Clarissa, Jayden, Dilan and spouses; and seven great-grandchildren; Dale, St. Ansgar; and Paula and her husband Todd of Rockford; grandchildren, Colton Dow of rural Greene, and his wife Carrigan, and great-grandchildren, Caspen and Carter; Kyle Dow of Rockford; and brother, Douglas Holtz of Charles City.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Janice and her husband Don Townsley, Marlys Holtz, and sister-in-law Donna Holtz.
