HOLTKAMP
Thomas Allen “Tom” Holtkamp 85, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 12:36 p.m. Monday, December 18, 2023, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois.
He was a lifelong resident of the St. Paul area. He was born on September 30, 1938, the son of Ben and Louise (Krieger) Holtkamp. On July 28, 1962, he married Dianne Walljasper. They were married for sixty-two years and raised three sons: Leslie (Tina), Loren (Ann) and Wade (Kari) on their farm near St. Paul.
Tom enjoyed his career as a farmer and also enjoyed his pastimes of hunting, fishing, boating and RVing. He was a member of St. James the Less Catholic Church and served on St. James Parish Council and the God’s Acre Sale Committee. As a township trustee of Marion Township, he served on the St. Paul - West Point Fire and Rescue Department Board of Directors. Tom also was a veteran and a member of the West Point American Legion.
Tom had a unique ability of dowsing for water and had helped many people in the area by locating good well water for their families. His affirmation of success was his statement: “I never hit a bad well.”
Tom had a special devotion to St. Joseph, the Worker, who helped him in many ways. St. Joseph helped him find things, including his wallet in in a forty-five acre field.
Besides his wife and sons, Tom is survived by five grandchildren: Riley Holtkamp, Brianne Holtkamp Dunkelberger, Brent Holtkamp, Everly Holtkamp and Olive Holtkamp; great-grandchild: Blaine Dunkelberger; two sisters: Anita (Edward) Holtkamp Freesmeier Blindt and Geri (Donald) Holtkamp Conrad; sister-in-law: Carleen Walljasper Kurimski and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister: Marian Holtkamp Linnenbrink; two brothers: Edward and Arthur Holtkamp; sisters-in-law: Clementine Rauenbuehler Holtkamp, Mary Linnenbrink Holtkamp, Darlene Weir Holtkamp; brothers-in-law: Albert Linnenbrink and John Kurimski.
Tom loved his family. He coached his sons’ baseball teams, built them a go-cart racing track and helped them enjoy snowmobiling and motorcycling. He will be deeply missed by his family.
A visitation will begin at 12:00 noon, Friday, December 22, 2023, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, where the family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the funeral home.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 23, 2023, at St. James Catholic Church in St. Paul with Father Dan Dorau as celebrant.
Burial will be at St. James Cemetery in St. Paul with full military rites presented by the West Point American Legion Holtz - Geers Post #668.
A memorial has been established in his memory for St. Paul - West Point Fire and Rescue.
Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at
www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.
