1924
Philip
2015
Philip Holtgraves
July 25, 1924 — March 25, 2015
Philp J. Holtgraves, age 90, of Olathe, Kansas, passed away on March 25, 2015 at home.
Phil was born July 25, 1924, in Leavenworth, Kansas to Philip J. Holtgraves, Sr. and Julia (Farrell) Holtgraves. He married his beautiful bride of 64 years Vesta Margaret Veverka on June 2, 1951 in Tripp, South Dakota.
Phil graduated from Immaculata High School, Leavenworth, in 1941 and then attended Benedictine College in Atchison. He enlisted in the US Navy in July of 1943 and served until March of 1946 during WWII. He met Vesta while they were both working in Yellowstone National Park during the summer. He returned to Kansas City and received his law degree from the University of Kansas City (UMKC). Upon graduation he worked for Prudential. Then he founded his mortgage company Missouri Valley Investment Co. in the 1960s. He sold the company in the 1980s but found he was not fond of retirement. He started another mortgage company, First Mortgage Investment Company which he sold in the late 1990s. Phil continued to work and go to the office daily. His business interests included banking, real estate, oil and gas development and small business development until his health no longer allowed him to do so at the age 89. Those that knew Dad learned quickly that when he gave his word it was to be honored and he expected that of others in return. He was a hard worker and never one to sit still, though he afforded himself an afternoon nap in his later years.
Phil gave his family the love of many things including travel, hunting, gardening, photography, mushroom hunting, a good game of cards and the joy of a long road trip. Through the years he was involved in the Catholic Church, local government and PTO among other organizations. A very intelligent man with vast knowledge of many topics including geography and history, if you needed to know anything you just had to ask Dad. He was a strict father with a big heart and he loved spoiling his grandchildren. He loved his wife unconditionally and her well-being came first. They enjoyed their many travels together with a trip to Russia being their last international journey. Dad you will be missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Phil is survived by his wife Vesta, his children Tom Holtgraves, Teresa Holtgraves (Ric Prindle), Jim Holtgraves (Carol), Jane Clark (Dennis), John Holtgraves (Katherine), Nancy Holtgraves, Chuck Holtgraves (Lisa) and Jo Ellen Fritz (Kent), his fourteen grandchildren, Eric, Nicole (Chris), Robert (Angie), Andrew, Torii, Megan, Noah, Micah, August, Jackson, Cameron, Carson, Claire and Brooke and his five great-grandchildren Charlotte, Robert, Oliver, Zoey and Alexandra, his brother Don Holtgraves (Ginny) and sister Helen Starostka and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 4pm – 6pm on Sunday, March 29th at the Johnson County Funeral Chapel with Rosary at 4pm. Funeral services will be 10am on Monday, March 30th at The Church of the Nativity at 3800 W. 119th St, Leawood, Kansas. Interment will immediately follow at Resurrection Cemetery at 83rd and Quivira, Lenexa, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities Kansas City-St. Joseph.
Phil was born July 25, 1924, in Leavenworth, Kansas to Philip J. Holtgraves, Sr. and Julia (Farrell) Holtgraves. He married his beautiful bride of 64 years Vesta Margaret Veverka on June 2, 1951 in Tripp, South Dakota.
Phil graduated from Immaculata High School, Leavenworth, in 1941 and then attended Benedictine College in Atchison. He enlisted in the US Navy in July of 1943 and served until March of 1946 during WWII. He met Vesta while they were both working in Yellowstone National Park during the summer. He returned to Kansas City and received his law degree from the University of Kansas City (UMKC). Upon graduation he worked for Prudential. Then he founded his mortgage company Missouri Valley Investment Co. in the 1960s. He sold the company in the 1980s but found he was not fond of retirement. He started another mortgage company, First Mortgage Investment Company which he sold in the late 1990s. Phil continued to work and go to the office daily. His business interests included banking, real estate, oil and gas development and small business development until his health no longer allowed him to do so at the age 89. Those that knew Dad learned quickly that when he gave his word it was to be honored and he expected that of others in return. He was a hard worker and never one to sit still, though he afforded himself an afternoon nap in his later years.
Phil gave his family the love of many things including travel, hunting, gardening, photography, mushroom hunting, a good game of cards and the joy of a long road trip. Through the years he was involved in the Catholic Church, local government and PTO among other organizations. A very intelligent man with vast knowledge of many topics including geography and history, if you needed to know anything you just had to ask Dad. He was a strict father with a big heart and he loved spoiling his grandchildren. He loved his wife unconditionally and her well-being came first. They enjoyed their many travels together with a trip to Russia being their last international journey. Dad you will be missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Phil is survived by his wife Vesta, his children Tom Holtgraves, Teresa Holtgraves (Ric Prindle), Jim Holtgraves (Carol), Jane Clark (Dennis), John Holtgraves (Katherine), Nancy Holtgraves, Chuck Holtgraves (Lisa) and Jo Ellen Fritz (Kent), his fourteen grandchildren, Eric, Nicole (Chris), Robert (Angie), Andrew, Torii, Megan, Noah, Micah, August, Jackson, Cameron, Carson, Claire and Brooke and his five great-grandchildren Charlotte, Robert, Oliver, Zoey and Alexandra, his brother Don Holtgraves (Ginny) and sister Helen Starostka and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 4pm – 6pm on Sunday, March 29th at the Johnson County Funeral Chapel with Rosary at 4pm. Funeral services will be 10am on Monday, March 30th at The Church of the Nativity at 3800 W. 119th St, Leawood, Kansas. Interment will immediately follow at Resurrection Cemetery at 83rd and Quivira, Lenexa, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities Kansas City-St. Joseph.
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