Larry Gene Holers

Larry Gene Holers, 86, of Napoleon, was born December 17, 1936 to Fred and Minnie (nee Gerken) Holers in Freedom Township, Henry County, Ohio. When he wasn't cleaning eggs or helping his sister Lorna Holers and brother Vernon Holers on the family farm, Larry attended St. John's parochial school through 8th grade, then spent his secondary years at Ridgeville Corners High School, where Larry was a star pitcher on the school's baseball team. He loved to say he graduated in 1954 as the top student in the bottom half of his class. After school, Larry served his country for two years as a private in the U.S. Army, much of that time at Loring AFB near Caribou, Maine. After returning from the service, Larry enrolled at Bowling Green State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business. During his college years, Larry married his love, Constance Ann (Connie, nee Ludeman) of Napoleon on August 1, 1959. Upon earning his degree, Larry took a position in the accounting department at the General Motors transmission plant in Toledo, Ohio, where he worked for six years. During this time, Larry and Connie welcomed two children into their home, Diane (1965) and Brian (1967). But ultimately, Larry's adventuresome nature was not to be denied, and in January 1968 he and Connie left a secure future with GM so Larry could pursue his lifelong passion to be a forester. They left Ohio with a toddler and a baby, to attend graduate school in Nacogdoches, Texas. After earning his Master's in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin University in 1970, Larry went to work for Continental Forest Industries in Warrenton, Georgia, where his son Eric (1970) was born. In 1971, Larry was transferred to Louisiana, where he and Connie bought a home on several acres with a pond, a baseball field, and ample room for vegetable gardens. They lived there and lovingly attended to the property for 46 years. There he pursued his other passions of growing vegetables and of chopping firewood. He also shared his love of baseball with his two sons. He threw tens of thousands of batting practice pitches over the years, often lamenting that the older the boys got, the farther back he had to move his pitcher's mound. He also kept a jon boat and paddle at water’s edge for fast retrieval of any baseballs hit into the pond. Larry was a lifelong family man, dedicated to his wife Connie and their three children, all of whom survive him. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Fulton Lankenau, Anson Lankenau and Aliza Lankenau (children of Diane), Madeline Holers-Martinez (Daniel), Mackenzie Holers, and Mason Holers (children of Eric) and Benjamin Holers Gross (son of Brian), as well as one great-grandson, Teddy Martinez. Ever the patriot, Larry passed away peacefully at home on the evening of July 4, with Connie, his loving wife of almost 64 years, at his side. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 10, at 11:00 am at St. John's Lutheran Church, Freedom Township. Visitation will take place Sunday July 9 from 2-6 PM at Rodenberger Funeral Home, Napoleon, Ohio, and an hour prior to the service on Monday at the church. Interment will follow the service at St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made to the St. John Lutheran Church Home Fund or the Filling Home of Mercy and condolences may be left for the family at www.rodenbergergray.com.

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Larry Gene Holers

December 17, 1936 - July 4, 2023