John Holden

John R. Holden, age 94, of Sheboygan, died Wednesday morning, June 24, 2015 at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice in Sheboygan Falls, WI. He was born February 28, 1921 in La Valle, Wisconsin to John E. and Ruth (Garfoot) Holden. He was a graduate of Platteville High School, Class of 1938. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1942 with a bachelor's degree in American Institutions and, in 1945, with a law degree. He married Hilda Maretzke on June 1, 1946 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheboygan. She preceded him in death on April 25, 2010. Holden practiced law in Madison for one year and in Reedsburg for three years. He came to Sheboygan in 1949 to practice law with a local law firm and as a trial attorney for what is now Acuity Insurance. He formed his own law firm a year later and practiced with numerous associates until 1982. During this time he was associated in various capacities with the insurance company. He served as its legal counsel from 1949 to 1959, successfully trying lawsuits across the state of Wisconsin. In 1955 he became general manager of what was then known as Mutual Auto Insurance Company. Over the next four years he was instrumental in changing the name to Heritage Mutual Insurance Company and in relocating the company from the Village of Franklin to a new headquarters building on Memorial Drive in Sheboygan. He served as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel from 1959 to 1969 and as President and CEO from 1969 to 1999, when he retired. He was a leader in relocating the company headquarters to the present site on Interstate 43 in Sheboygan. He had fifty years of service with the company. Holden was a member of the board of directors of Memorial Drive Bank from its inception in 1970 to 1991, serving as its president in 1973 and as chairman of the board from 1974 to 1991. He was a member of the board of directors of Lakeshore Associated Bank in Manitowoc from 1991 to 2001, and was chairman of the board of the six Westland Banks headquartered in Tomah from 1991 to 1999. Holden is a former president of the Sheboygan County Bar Association. He served six years on the board of governors of the Wisconsin State Bar Association. He was also elected treasurer of that organization by its members, and served on its executive, finance, and communication committees. He was a teaching instructor at the University of Wisconsin Law School during the 1970s. Holden was a member of First United Lutheran Church for over 60 years where he served as president of the church council. He also served on the building committee and long term planning committees for the church. He was a member of the Sheboygan Rotary Club for 51 years and early on played a leading role in forming four new clubs - Chilton, Plymouth, Sheboygan Rotary West, and Sheboygan Early Bird Rotary. In 1987 he was awarded the Rotary Club's Good Citizen award. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Jaycees in 1970, and Outstanding Alumni Award from the UW-Madison Alumni club of Sheboygan County in 1991. Intensely interested in politics, in the 1950's Holden was chairman of the Sheboygan County Democratic Party, and was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in Chicago in 1952 and 1956. An ardent sports fan, Holden attended Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Chicago Cubs games on a regular basis. He began following the Packers in 1929, attended his first Packer game in 1945, and attended nearly all of the Packer home games from 1952 until recent years. He was also interested in regional art, visiting galleries and buying art wherever he traveled, in the US and foreign countries. He is survived by four children: Attorney Deborah (James Baughman) of Chicago, Illinois, David (Shirley) of Corpus Christi, Texas, Attorney Michael (Mary) of Phoenix, Arizona, and Attorney Elizabeth (Rob Hill) of St. Louis Park, Minnesota; eight grandchildren, Gregory (Elizabeth) Morris of Chicago, Illinois, Emily Morris of New York City, Amy (Jason) Heivilin of Three Rivers, Michigan, John Holden of New York City, Anne Holden of Seattle, Washington, John Hill of Seattle, Washington, Evan Hill of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Aleksandra Hill of St. Louis Park, Minnesota; and one great-granddaughter, Margaret Morris. He is also survived by his sister, Hazel Stauffacher of Darlington, Wisconsin and his brother, Donald of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brother, Blair Holden. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 29, 2015 at First United Lutheran Church, 2401 Kohler Memorial Drive, Sheboygan, WI 53081. Rev. Todd Smith, Pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow at Wildwood Cemetery. A time of visitation and support will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening, June 28, 2015 at Ballhorn Funeral Chapels, 1201 N. 8th St., Sheboygan, WI 53081, and at the church Monday morning from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial funds have been established in his name for First United Lutheran Church, 2401 Kohler Memorial Drive, Sheboygan, WI 53081 and the Sheboygan County Historical Society, 3110 Erie Avenue, Sheboygan, WI 53081. To sign the guestbook, visit: www.ballhornchapels.com