Lamonte A Hollertz

Celebration of Life Service for LaMonte A. "Monte" Hollertz will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Mr. Brad Perry officiating.  A private family inurnment will be held at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege at a later date.

LaMonte Albin "Monte" Hollertz, 87 years of age, of rural Elm Creek, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, January 27, 2020, at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.  Monte was born November 1, 1932, on the family farm in northern Harlan County, northwest of Ragan, Nebraska, the youngest of four children to Albin Melker and Blanche Edith (Hedlund) Hollertz.  Monte grew up on the family farm northwest of Ragan.  He received his education from Ragan Public School, graduating from Ragan High School with the class of 1950.  Following his education, he was united in marriage to Norma Jean Harman in 1953, and to this union five children were born:  Allan LaMonte, Susan Jean, Karen Lee, Kevin Monte, and Robin Lane.

Monte served his country in the United States Army from 1954 until his honorable discharge in 1956.  He was stationed at Camp Chaffee in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  After his discharge, he returned home to Harlan County and engaged in farming with his father northwest of Ragan.

In 1969, Monte was united in marriage to Rose Ann (Corbin) Smith, and they made their home on the Hollertz farm.  Monte was blessed with Rose Ann's two sons with this marriage:  Tommy and Jeffrey.  The couple blended their two families together as they focused their efforts raising their five sons and two daughters.  Monte was preceded in death by his wife, Rose Ann in 1979.

Monte continued to farm full-time, and his hobby of restoring classic cars led him down a path to becoming a classic car curator.  Monte started collecting Chevy's in the 1960's, and especially loved all the sport models.  There were no two-doors or sedans in his early collection.  He enjoyed traveling throughout the Mid-West on his journey for Chevy's, venturing to other states as far as Oregon, and closer to home into Kansas.  Monte enjoyed restoring his classics with his sons, and eventually found an old skating rink in Minden, Nebraska to house them.

The original version of Chevyland was in Minden for a few years, before he decided the traffic wasn't what he expected.  Monte did what any industrial farmer would do, and found a piece of land to grow his vision.

During this time, Monte continued to farm on a full-time basis, and worked nonstop to get Chevyland USA on the north side of Interstate 80 near Elm Creek off the ground.  After the passing of his wife, Rose Ann, he took over as the head curator. On November 1, 1980, he was united in marriage to Joann "Jo" White of Grand Island, Nebraska.  At this time, Monte turned the farming operation over to his eldest son, Allan, and he and Jo began to reside at Chevyland as full-time curators, and built a home onto the museum.  Throughout the years, Chevyland long surpassed being Chevy-exclusive.  He and Jo enjoyed many years welcoming visitors!  At the height of Chevyland's popularity, the couple clocked about 100 visitors a day to the museum.  As things slowed down in later years, they enjoyed spoiling their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  At one time Chevyland was one of the largest private Chevy collections in the world.

Throughout the years, Monte also enjoyed stock cars, snowmobiling, was an avid motorcycle rider, who loved his Gold Wing.  He loved to travel, family vacations were fond memories, and later he and Jo also loved to travel, and a favorite trip was to Canada for 32 days.

Besides his parents, and wife, Rose Ann; Monte was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Lana Hollertz; two sisters:  Leone Heldenbrand and her husband, Bill; and Gloria Bryan and her husband, Ward; and brother-in-law, Rodney Swanson.

Monte leaves to celebrate his life; his wife, Jo Hollertz, of rural Elm Creek; his sons:  Al Hollertz of rural Holdrege; Kevin Hollertz of Huntley, Nebraska; Rob Hollertz and his special friend, Cindy McNiel of Kearney; Tom Smith and his wife, Dedra of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Jeff Smith of Holdrege; two daughters:  Sue (Hollertz) Robinson and her husband, Jim Robinson of Bloomington, Nebraska; and Karen Buettner of rural Holdrege; four step-children:  Deb Kozak and her husband, Dave of Grand Island; Rick White and his wife, Dianna of  Raymond, Nebraska; Jeff White of Hastings, Nebraska; and Jim White of Kearney; 20 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 7 step-grandchildren; 7 step great-grandchildren; sister, Rose Ann Swanson of Holdrege; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A memorial book signing will be held on Monday, February 3, 2020, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Monte's honor, and kindly suggested to the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.