Walter E. Holstine, 100 of Aledo, formerly of Reynolds, passed peacefully Wednesday, September 27, 2023, in his home. Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m., Saturday, October 7, at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday. Private family burial will be in Reynolds Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Reynolds Cemetery Association or the Reynolds United Methodist Church.
Walter E. Holstine was born February 25, 1923, near Colchester, Illinois. He was the son of James and Jesse (Horrell) Holstine. He married Georgiabelle Becker in her parents’ home in Reynolds in 1945. She preceded him in death in 2016.
Walter farmed in the Reynolds area from 1947 until his retirement. Starting in 1994 he was a “winter Texan” for sixteen years.
Walter enjoyed family, playing cards, and quietly doing things the right way. He did not make excuses or look for blame. He lived a life where relationships had priority over things. He served his profession, his church, and his community in many ways, including Rock Island Farm Bureau Board, Mer-Roc FS Board, Trustee on Regional Board of Education, Rock Island County Fair Board, Blackhawk Township Supervisor, Reynolds Cemetery Sexton, Reynolds United Methodist Church Board, and nearly 20 years as a 4-H leader.
Among those left to cherish his memory are his children: William (Carol) Holstine, Normal, IL; Anne (Allen) Holdsworth, Aledo, IL; James (Savilla) Holstine, Milan, IL; and Wayne (Gay) Holstine, Cedar Rapids, IA. In addition, Walter has eight grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren: Andy and Phoung Holstine and children, Stella, Gable, Evie, Bela, and Remy; Robert and Leanna Holstine and their children: Sawyer and Charlotte; Kevin and Sarah Holstine and their children: Raymond and Noah; Jon and Lindi Holstine and their children: Adilyn, Maya, and Blythe; Jeff Holdsworth and his children: Mikayla and Ayden; Jessica and Eric Vanasdale; Emily Koebbe and her children: Nathan and Helen; and Russell and Natalie Holstine and their daughters, Marilee, Cora, and Emma. Also surviving is a brother-in-law, Paul Parks.
Walter was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; his son, Richard; and by his two brothers and four sisters.
We express our heartfelt gratitude to the staff and residents of Brookstone for their special care and love, making it his home for the last 13 years.