William "Holly" Hodge

Funeral Services for William "Holly" Hodge, Jr. will be conducted on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Darren Stroh and Pastor Linda Knipping officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

William "Holly" Hodge, Jr., 81 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Friday, July 15, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. He was born on January 8, 1930 at the Brewster Hospital in Holdrege, the only child born to William Holly Hodge Sr. and Sigrid Aleda (Anderson) Hodge. Holly was raised on a farm fifteen miles southwest of Holdrege. He received his primary education in Atlanta, Nebraska until the seventh grade, and then attended the Mascot School for two years before transferring to Holdrege High School, where he graduated with the class of 1947. Holly then pursued higher education at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Following his education, Holly decided to try his hand at farming, a passion he would pursue for the better part of his adult life. In March of 1949 he married Geraldine Mitchell from Lincoln. The couple then moved to a farm two miles west of Holdrege. Besides raising wheat, milo, corn, and soybeans, Holly and Geraldine raised three children: James, Steven, and Joyce. Alongside farming, Holly dedicated his time to farm organizations and governmental endeavors. He was passionate about the labor of land and the resources within it as he was a lobbyist to the Nebraska Legislature for the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association, and served as President from 1972 to 1974. He also served as chairman of the Farm Programs Committee, which allowed him to lobby for the National Farm Programs and for the use of grain alcohol in automobiles, later to be called Gasohol. In the early seventies he was appointed to the National Board of the Western Wheat Association. This was an organization to promote wheat sales in the Asian Countries. He served as chairman of the Personnel Committee and was able to travel around the world to visit overseas offices. In the late seventies he helped organize the National Gasohol Commission, and served as their president in 1980.

On July 16, 1984, Holly was united in marriage to Virginia Lindersmith. The couple enjoyed their retirement years visiting relatives across the country and spending the winters in New Mexico. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Holdrege, and involved with the Holdrege Elks Club, the Holdrege Rotary Club, the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce, the Phelps County Community Foundation, and served as a member of the Board of Education for the R-7 School. In his free time, Holly enjoyed flying, sailing, golf, playing pool, traveling, and Genealogy. Most of all, he loved spending time with his grandchildren and attending their activities.

Holly was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Virginia of Holdrege; two sons: Jim Hodge and his wife, Sally of Holdrege, and Steve Hodge of Loveland, Colorado; one daughter, Joyce Burkholder and her husband, John of Holdrege; four step-children: Steve Lindersmith and his wife, Diana, Roger Lindersmith and his wife, Linda, Joy Houchin and her husband, Wayne, and Cheryl Johnson; eight grandchildren: John Burkholder, Jr., Jason Burkholder and his wife, Heather, Jared Burkholder and his wife, Sheri, Tim Hodge, Rick Hodge and his wife, Nicole, Mike Hodge, Brett Hodge and Kristin Hodge; eight great-grandchildren; twelve step grandchildren; eleven step great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Holly's memory and will be designated at a later date.

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

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