Richard ‘Rick’ Holthaus, 62
Richard “Rick” Holthaus, age 62 of Alta Vista, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, at Floyd County Memorial Hospital at Charles City.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Alta Vista with Father Jerry Kopacek celebrating the mass. Those unable to attend the funeral in person, joined the family via Conway-Markham Funeral Home’s Facebook Live at the time of the service.
Burial was held at Mt. Calvary in Alta Vista.
Visitation was held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in Elma, and continued at the church one hour prior to the funeral mass on Friday.
Online condolences may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. In lieu of floral contributions or gifts, memorials may be directed to the New Hampton FFA chapter or to the family to be designated at a later date.
Richard “Rick” Holthaus was born on March 11, 1959, the son of James and Arlene (Rosenbaum) Holthaus in New Hampton. Rick’s childhood days were spent on the family’s dairy farm outside of New Hampton.
He attended and graduated from New Hampton High School in the class of 1977. While in school, Rick was active in the New Hampton FFA chapter, even serving as president and vice president and received the Iowa Farmer Degree.
After completing his education, Rick began working at Meinerz’s Creamery, and then to Great Plains as a yard foreman. He also began his lifelong career farming.
Rick was united in marriage to Cindy Ann Boehmer on May 31, 1980, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Alta Vista. As the couple made their home in rural Alta Vista, they welcomed their five children —Brandon, Miranda, Lindsey, Justina and Jarrett.
Rick devoted his adult life to being a public servant in many ways. He served nine years on the New Hampton School Board, serving as the president and vice president. He also served on the Nominating Committee for Hawkeye REC. He and Cindy have been active members of the Alta Vista Commercial Club for over 24 years, and he was active at St. Bernard’s Church, having served on the parish council and served as an usher, Eucharistic minister, and chairman of the finance council.
Rick also served on many other boards and committees: Pork Producers, Community Foundation Grant Committee, Avenue of the Saints Rural Revitalization Project, Steering Committee for Golden Grain Ethanol Plant, State committees for Farm Bureau. He served nine years as county supervisor, serving as chair and vice chair and he has represented the county on these boards — Health Insurance Board, Health Insurance Advisory Board, County Social Services (CSS), CSS Advisory Board, as well as being an integral part of the Northeast Iowa Community Action Board, North Iowa Response Group, and Heartland Insurance Board.
Though farming was arguably Rick’s passion, then politics, it was his family that he cherished the most, especially earning the title, “Papa!” He had a special bond with all of his grandkids and enjoyed spending so much time with them.
Rick has quite the collection of toy tractors and could be often found at toy shows or auctions. He will be lovingly remembered for his kind heart and devotion to his community. He was rarely short on words or passion when it came to defending his point of view on what was best for the community or just being a better human being. He touched the lives of many!
His memories are cherished by his wife, Cindy of Alta Vista; his sons, Brandon and Jarrett Holthaus of Alta Vista; his daughters, Miranda (Adam) Eichenberger of New Hampton, Lindsey (Danny) Fontenot of Waterloo, and Justina (Dustin) Brown of Denver; his grandchildren, Eli, Emmett, Hailey, Carter and Danny; in-laws, Jerome and Fran Boehmer; Randy (Christy) Boehmer, both of Alta Vista, and Kevin (Brenda) Boehmer of Rockford; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Roger.
