1916
Louise
2008
Louise Holtzinger
June 10, 1916 — March 25, 2008
Anna Louise Nesselroad Crummett Rodemyer Holtzinger, age 91, passed away on March 25, 2008 in Billings, Montana.
She was a loving wife, super mother, dedicated grandmother, great-grandmother and a wonderful, generous friend to everyone she met. Louise was born to Orley and Alice Nesselroad, June 10, 1916, was raised in Kansas City, Missouri and graduated from Central High School. Louise's working career spanned several decades, primarily being a secretary for several Kansas City-area businesses, including jobs at Massingill Pharmaceutical Company, Butler Manufacturing Company and Baptist Memorial Hospital. To her name, Louise was also the first woman to be employed by the Kansas City Fire Department. She was a life-long Baptist brought up through the ranks of Tabernacle Baptist, Swope Park Baptist and Emmanuel Baptist Churches. However, the most rewarding endeavors of Louise's life were the labors of love for senior citizens in her community.
She reached out to the elderly who were lonely, ignored or shut-in. She initially worked within the context of her church where she founded the "X, Y, Z (Xtra Years of Zest) Club." Seniors would come to her church, enjoy an entertaining or educational program, have a nourishing hot lunch, play some games and share warm fellowship with one another. Once she garnered some successes, she was asked by the Kansas City Baptist Association and Missouri Baptist Convention to share her expertise with other churches in the area that wanted to start their own "X, Y, Z Clubs." Soon she was writing articles about her activities for newsletters and magazines. She honed her expertise in Homebound Ministry, which included developing a program where she trained people to go into nursing homes to share Bible studies and other activities. Ultimately, she established groups in over 20 nursing homes in the Kansas City area. Her pinnacle of achievement was attained when she was asked to put on seminars and workshops at the national level for Southern Baptist Convention venues at Ridgecrest, South Carolina and Glorieta, New Mexico. She was always humbled by her success but did enjoy having college grads as students in her classes. Louise married Harry Crummett in 1941. Louise's only child, Michael, was born to this marriage.
However, this marriage ended in divorce in 1953. In 1956, Louise married Bob Rodemyer, who had a business that specialized in erecting bulk storage systems. Bob R died of lung cancer in 1972. Thereafter, Louise bumped into an old friend, Bob Holtzinger, who had recently lost his wife to cancer. Consoling each other with similar circumstances led Bob H and Louise to the altar in 1974. They had many good years of travel, enjoying retirement, visiting kids and grandkids. Both Bob and Louise were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2000. Bob preceded Louise in death in 2003. Louise is survived by her only child, Michael (Linda) Crummett, Billings, MT and their two sons, Justin Crummett and Nathan Crummett; sister Orlene Ashcraft and brother Jack (Ruthie) Nesselroad; brother Ed (Pat Danser) Nesselroad, Deming, NM; nephews Edwin (Cindy) Nesselroad and Jeff Nesselroad; nieces Paula (Paul) Butcher, Julie (Bill) Bonderov of; step-daughter Beth Holtzinger (Paul) Rogers.
Life Celebration Services will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 29 at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County, 11200 Metcalf. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the same location. Memorials may be made to the church or charity of one's choice.
She was a loving wife, super mother, dedicated grandmother, great-grandmother and a wonderful, generous friend to everyone she met. Louise was born to Orley and Alice Nesselroad, June 10, 1916, was raised in Kansas City, Missouri and graduated from Central High School. Louise's working career spanned several decades, primarily being a secretary for several Kansas City-area businesses, including jobs at Massingill Pharmaceutical Company, Butler Manufacturing Company and Baptist Memorial Hospital. To her name, Louise was also the first woman to be employed by the Kansas City Fire Department. She was a life-long Baptist brought up through the ranks of Tabernacle Baptist, Swope Park Baptist and Emmanuel Baptist Churches. However, the most rewarding endeavors of Louise's life were the labors of love for senior citizens in her community.
She reached out to the elderly who were lonely, ignored or shut-in. She initially worked within the context of her church where she founded the "X, Y, Z (Xtra Years of Zest) Club." Seniors would come to her church, enjoy an entertaining or educational program, have a nourishing hot lunch, play some games and share warm fellowship with one another. Once she garnered some successes, she was asked by the Kansas City Baptist Association and Missouri Baptist Convention to share her expertise with other churches in the area that wanted to start their own "X, Y, Z Clubs." Soon she was writing articles about her activities for newsletters and magazines. She honed her expertise in Homebound Ministry, which included developing a program where she trained people to go into nursing homes to share Bible studies and other activities. Ultimately, she established groups in over 20 nursing homes in the Kansas City area. Her pinnacle of achievement was attained when she was asked to put on seminars and workshops at the national level for Southern Baptist Convention venues at Ridgecrest, South Carolina and Glorieta, New Mexico. She was always humbled by her success but did enjoy having college grads as students in her classes. Louise married Harry Crummett in 1941. Louise's only child, Michael, was born to this marriage.
However, this marriage ended in divorce in 1953. In 1956, Louise married Bob Rodemyer, who had a business that specialized in erecting bulk storage systems. Bob R died of lung cancer in 1972. Thereafter, Louise bumped into an old friend, Bob Holtzinger, who had recently lost his wife to cancer. Consoling each other with similar circumstances led Bob H and Louise to the altar in 1974. They had many good years of travel, enjoying retirement, visiting kids and grandkids. Both Bob and Louise were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2000. Bob preceded Louise in death in 2003. Louise is survived by her only child, Michael (Linda) Crummett, Billings, MT and their two sons, Justin Crummett and Nathan Crummett; sister Orlene Ashcraft and brother Jack (Ruthie) Nesselroad; brother Ed (Pat Danser) Nesselroad, Deming, NM; nephews Edwin (Cindy) Nesselroad and Jeff Nesselroad; nieces Paula (Paul) Butcher, Julie (Bill) Bonderov of; step-daughter Beth Holtzinger (Paul) Rogers.
Life Celebration Services will be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 29 at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County, 11200 Metcalf. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the same location. Memorials may be made to the church or charity of one's choice.
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